THE STUBBIE QUAIL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3022, 8 March 1917, Page 7

THE STUBBIE QUAIL

PERMISSION TO IMPORT . • GRANTED. Some time ago the Auckland. Acclimatisation Society applied to the Government for "permission "''to import stubble quail into New Zealand as an extra attraction-to' sportsmen. The Department of Internal' Affairs has considered the request very carefully, making inquiries .in' other countries as to tho habits of. the birds. The Minisr tur stated yesterday that it-had.been decided to grant to Auckland.the .permission sought. ; All the information Rie Department had been able to obtain showed that there was no danger whatever to be . anticipated by crop-, growers from . the introduction of the birds into this ■ country." The decision of tho Government had been made only after most careful consideration.

According to a report received from the Acting-Inspector-.'of .Fisheries and Game in. Victoria, stubble quail are, fairly common iii. that State,. and in the whole of Southern Australia. .Their natural home. is on the open grassy plains, but they are. also .frequently found in stubble or in crops. They are never neon where tho timber is thick. The bird is nomadic in Us habits, wandering about from place to place in search of food supply. These journeys . are always made at night. It is essentially a ground bird, and when disturbed it rises very quickly with a whirring sound. Sportsmen consider them easy to kill on account of their straight flight. In favourable seasons a pair of birds, will rear two. or thren clutches. Their food consists of weed seeds and insects.