Well here goes my recollection. The old quail were noticeably bigger, yellow legged, favored open woodlots, fallow fields, didn't run from dogs, set your watch by their routine, found in smaller coveys. Some blame cross breeding with mexican imports, others blame evolution, reasoning that the birds were pressured and the non runners, slower flying, larger birds, just gave way to the disappear in a whisp of smoke, flush wild, run like commanches, birds we have now. Reality is probably all of the above. Lots of people released lots of different strains of birds, the wildlife departments included, birds were pressured as more hunters took to the field, habitats evolved in a negative way, birds had to adapt too!