Stubble Qnail

Levin Daily Chronicle, 10 March 1917, Page 1

Stubble Qnail

FOR .NEW ZEALAND SHOOTERS,

"Some time ago," said tlite Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of internal Affairs) to a New Zealand tllimes' reporter) "the Auckland Acclimatisation Society applied for permission to introduce stubble quail into New Zealand, as an additional attraction for sportsmen. The matter has been carefully enquired into and inquiries made as to the experience of other countries concerning these birds, and it now has been decided to grant the desired permission. The acting inspector of fisheries and game in Victoria reports that stubble quail is fairly common throughout Vivtora, and in fact the whole of the southern part of Australia. Its natural home is on the open grassy plans, but it is also frequently found in stubble and amongst crops. It nests in crops and undergrowth, but is never seen where tmber is thick. The 6tubble quail is nomadic in its habits, wandering about accoording to food supply, and such movements are made at night. It is escenti'ally a ground 'bird. IWhem disturbed it rises with a whirring sound, and sportmen consider it easy to kill on account of its straght flight. Two Or even three cluthhes may be rared in a • favourable" season. The birds feed on weed seeds and insects. All the information we have obtained is to the effect that there is no danger whatever to be feared by clopgrowers from the introducion of these quail, and the decision to permit them to be introduced has only been arrived at* after the most careful consideration,"