THE NEW ZEALAND QUAIL 



177 



These birds were active on the ground. It has been stated that 

 their sense of hearing was far less acute than their sight. They 

 often uttered a low purring sound, typical rather of an insect 

 than of a bird. The call was given frequently in moist or wet 

 Aveather. It is described as being like "twit, twit, twit, twee-twit," 

 repeated several times in quick succession. But in very stormy, 

 gusty weather, the birds were dull and silent, and hid away 



New Zealand QuaiL 



among thick tussocks. In confinement, they were fond of 

 picking about in the sand. Thej^ thrived well on soaked bread, 

 grain of various kinds, and the larvae of insects. The male was 

 not an attentive mate at feeding times, and, when several were 

 kept in the same enclosure, constant bickerings took place, 

 though actual hostilities did not break out. The eggs required 

 twenty-one days' incubation, and the chicks were very active as 

 soon as they emerged from the shell. They grew rapidly, and 

 when they had reached about four months of age they could not 

 be easily distinguished from the adults, by contrast of either size 

 or plumage. 



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