'In Britain it is far less regular in appearance than on the neighbouring continent, being plentiful in some seasons and at others but sparingly dispersed; thus at one period the corn-fields .... almost ring with their 'whit-whit' while at others the stillness of the evening is scarcely disturbed by their well-known notes.'

The illustration shows a male and female and a clutch of young among the Common Daisy and Speedwell. In the British Museum is a preliminary drawing in pencil and watercolour by Gould for this illustration. It is one of the very rare works signed by Gould himself 'Quail J. Gould 1863'.

DISTRIBUTION: Palaearctic distribution from British Isles to Siberia, eastern Atlantic islands, northwest Africa through to west China and Mongolia; also east and south Africa. Winters from Mediterranean region and Arabia to tropical Africa, and from south Africa north to Angola to Zaire