894 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



PROPOSED ALTERATION TO THE FOREST RULES IN REFERENCE 



TO THE CLOSE TIME FOR QUAIL AND BUSTARD 



IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 



Some correspondence with the Bombay Government on the above subject 

 was published in the last Journal (page 665 of this Volume), and the resolution 

 given below will, it is considered, prove more satisfactory than the present dates 

 of the close season. 



Rides under the Indian Forest Act. 



Proposal to change the date of the close season for Quail. 



No. 8105. 



Revenue Department, 

 Bombay Castle. 8th August 1908. 



Resolution. — On mature consideration Government do not find that suffi- 

 cient reason has been shown for altering the dates of the close season fixed in the 

 Appendix to Government Notification No. 5627, dated 18th August 1903. It 

 does not seem necessary to prescribe a close season for the grey-quail. As 

 regards the rain-quail, the close season proposed, namely, 15th July to 30th 

 November, is much too late. A vast majority of these birds breed in June 

 and July, but they are already mated in April, and Government consider 

 that they should be protected from that month. They are mature by October 

 and therefore need no protection then. Moreover, as grey-quail and rain- 

 quail are commonly shot together, the former in considerably large number's, 

 and it requires <a very quick eye to distinguish one from the other on the 

 wing, it would not be possible to enforce the rule if the close season were 

 extended to 30th November. Of the other quail, the bush-quail is the only 

 one of importance, and though exceptionally late broods are not uncommon. 

 Government consider that the 30th September is late enough for it. All 

 gallinaceous birds will nest a second, and even a third time if the entire nests 

 are destroyed, and this fact accounts for the many instances of late breeding 

 which have been observed. The rules ought not, however, to be framed to 

 meet exceptional cases and seasons, and great scrupulosity will defeat the 

 object of the rules. If the close season now prescribed is enforced, it will, in 

 the opinion of the Governor in Council, meet all reasonable requirements and 

 serve all practical purposes. 



J. E. C. JUKES, 



Under Secretary to Government. 



