22 Keartlasd, The Quail Season, [C)i 2 [vol'xxix. 



middle of March — certainly not before the ist March." — 

 Argus, Sth March. A South Yarra correspondent writes : — 

 " In the preparation of quail for table at our house it was 

 discovered that some of them contained eggs. These birds 

 were shot at Laverton on 24th February. This alone should 

 cause a doubt as to the advisability of opening the season 

 before the ist March." 



On ibth March I received a letter from one of our members 

 (Mr. F. Cayley), saying that he had made inquiries from a 

 number of shooters and others in a position to observe quail 

 at Werribee. Some of the shooters saw a few squeakers, but 

 all were able to fly. Others declared they saw none. A 

 couple advised the Ornithological Society to mind its own 

 business. The manager of the Manor estate saw a large number 

 of squeakers. They were all able to fly, but would sooner run 

 or hide. He is the only one who thought the season opened 

 a little too early, and perhaps the least interested. Ouail have 

 been remarkably plentiful here this year. Some of the 

 shooters say they have not seen so many for twenty years. 



After reading the foregoing items it would be interesting to 

 know how young a squeaker would need to be to enjoy the 

 contempt of the shooter as being too small to shoot. 



In confirmation of my oft-repeated statement that no matter 

 when the season opens there are people who will endeavour 

 to steal a march on the law-abiding sportsmen, I had ample 

 proof on 15th February. Just as the sun was rising I noticed 

 my young dog smelling something which, on examination, 

 proved to be a dead quail which had been shot two or three 

 days before. It was quite putrid, and had shot perforations 

 on its beak and both legs. On mentioning my find to a 

 resident of the district he said : — "I am not at all sur])rised, 

 as two of the neighbours picked uj) winged quail last Sunday, 

 and both birds were suffering from fresh wounds." 



BooBOOK Owl and Magpie. — On 4th April, at 5.30 a.m.. 

 1 heard one of the magpies in my garden uttering cries of 

 distress as if caught in a trap. It was bright moonlight at the 

 time, and on looking over the fence I saw the magpie on its 

 back, fighting with beak and claws a Boobook Owl which was 

 attacking it. I dro\-c the owl away and went inside. In ten 

 minutes the noise was repeated, and I watched the fight from 

 the fence until I saw several Ininches of leathers fly from the 

 owl. I then drove it away. The magpie seemed none the 

 worse for the encounter. During the battle the (►ther magpie, 

 which was perched in a fruit tree, kci)t up a constant note of 

 encouragement to its mate, like an ordinary jnigilist. — 

 G. A. Keartla.nd. 



