726 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



addicted to moist grassy flats and swampy locaKties, and may be said 

 generally to be found throughout Australia, including Tasmania and 

 some of the intennediate islands in Bass Strait. It is regarded as a 

 stationai-y species, and would appear to be partial to insular quarters. 

 We shot one near our camp on Kent Group. While on the Fumeaux 

 Group Expedition several specimens were seemed which were flushed 

 from the coarse tussock grass on Cat and Storehouse Islands, to the 

 east of FUnders Island. On Albatross Island, on the opposite 

 (western) side of the Strait, Mr. D. Le Souef, 28th November, 1894, 

 picked up a Brown Quail which appeared to have travelled a long 

 distance, as it was much exhausted, and imable to fly. 



An expert shooter writes that the Brown Quail usually " rises like 

 the Partridge, flies strong and quick, and is decidedly the most sporting 

 bu-d of the lot " of Austrahan Quails. 



It may not be referable to this species, but it is stated that during 

 June and August, 1841, the officers of the "Beagle" shot no less than 

 one hundred and forty-five Quails, besides twenty-one Pigeons and 

 Doves, and twelve Rails of two kinds, on Booby Island, Torres Strait. 



The western dusky-colom-cd variety of the Brown Quail sometimes 

 wanders towards eastern locahties, for it is occasionally found in Soutli 

 Australia and Victoria. The species is tolerably plentiful in the 

 heathy situations and boi'onia swamps of South-western Austraha. 

 On Breaksea Island I enjoyed an opportunity of cultivating their close 

 acquaintance, for from behind the granite boulders I watched small 

 coveys dusting themselves in the sandy earth after the fasliiou of 

 domestic fowls. 



I learnt from the Hght-keepers on that island, from whom I received 

 specimens of eggs, that the young are usually noted about Christmas- 

 time or the beginning of the year. It is probable that the principal 

 breeding months are November, December and January. 



Another season (1890-1) Mr. A. Robinson (principal light-keeper) 

 wi-ote me : " Quails on the island all the year round. First young seen 

 about 10th November. Took the two clutches 14th December — too 

 late to blow." 



The following are Mr. G. A. Keartland's brief observations of the 

 Brown Quail in the gi"assy tracts of the North-west : — " Amongst the 

 tall kangaroo grass between Lake Way and the camel depot numbers 

 of these birds were seen, and several shot. One female lulled the '20th 

 August contained a perfect egg in the oviduct. Others were seen near 

 Mount Arthur in April, and several clutches of their eggs were picked 

 up as we crossed a level plain covered with Flinders gi-ass. The eggs 

 were scattered, as though they had been washed from the nests by 

 recent tropical rains. Both birds and eggs were identical with those 

 found in Victoria." 



Anent the domestic economy of Brown Quails, Mr. G. A. Keartland 

 read the following interesting note at the Field Naturalists' Club of 

 Victoiia, February, 1899, in reference to these birds breeding in liis 

 aviary: — "A glance at the hen whil.st sitting showed how these birds 

 manage to cover such large clutches of eggs in a state of nature. The 

 lung feathers on the sides of the breast spread out at right angles from 



