666 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV III. 



weather, so few remain to breed however that it is doubtful whether any 

 practical good can be derived from a close season. But to have any effect at all, 

 the close season should begin not later than the beginning of April and no pro- 

 tection at all is needed for the Grey Quail after, say, the 12th August. Soon 

 after that date migrants begin to appear along the Indus Valley and almost the 

 whole of these have travelled long distances from breeding places far across the 

 frontier. The natural close season for Grey Quail (if necessary at all in most 

 parts of India) is therefore from April 1st to August \2th. 



The Rain Quail, on the other hand, which is a species practically confined 

 to the Indian Empire, breeds everywhere at the end of the rains from 

 August to November. Writing from Sholapur where it breeds abundantly, 

 Mr. Wen den says : " On the 28th July this year I received my first 

 warning that it was time to discontinue shooting these birds. " Their nests 

 have been found on the Deccan throughout August and September, and 

 fresh eggs in the first week of October. That young birds hatched in October 

 should be fit to shoot by the 15th November — is clearly impossible, and as a 

 matter of fact in the Konkan, ' cheepers ' hardly able to fly, can be seen 

 as late as the middle of December. On the other hand, Jerdon is quoted as 

 stating that they breed in June or July and Hodgson says that they breed in 

 Nepal in May and June, but the generally accepted view is in favour of a close 

 season on the plains from lhth July to SOtJi November. 



The Bombay Natural History Society therefore beg to suggest to Govern- 

 ment the advisability of altering the dates suggested for the close season for 

 these two birds to — 



Grey Quail ... ... ... April 1st to August 12th. 



Rain Quail ... ... ... July 15th to November 30th. 



My Committee also hope that Government will be able to see their way to 

 amend the Rules framed under the Wild Birds Protection Act by Municipal 

 and Cantonment authorities in this Presidency, so as to bring these rules 

 into line with the proposed amended clauses of the Indian Forest Act. 



I have the honour to be. 

 Sir, 

 Your most obedient Servant, 

 (Sd.) W. S. Millard, 



Honorary Secretary, 

 Bombay Natural History Society. 



