210 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



during April is courting trouble, because they are slowly 

 killing the insectivorous "goose that lays the golden 



egg." 



I have introduced the question here because it is fit and 

 proper, as I see it. 



The Stubble and Swamp Quails each lay a large number 

 of eggs (8 to 10), and it is surprising how they will cover 

 and so uniformly incubate them. In the Victorian 

 Naturalisl, 1899, Mr. G. A. Keartland describes the process 

 of rearing a brood in the following way: — "The long 

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

 from the body till the bird could hide an ordinary tea 

 saucer. Although the male bird passed most of the time 

 beside his mate, I do not think he took any part in the 

 work of incubation, as he never stayed at the nest when the 

 female was away. Early on the 3rd of February I saw 

 broken egg-shells near the nest, and two small cbocolate- 

 coloured heads protruding from under the wings of the 

 female, but the male was perched on the parrots' log, about 

 four feet high. Next morning five chicks were seen 

 following the mother. The male bird kept out of the way, 

 preferring the company of the parrots to that of his wife 

 and family. Unfortunately some of the chicks got into the 

 water dish, and one was drowned ; but the other four are 

 thriving well, and have wing feathers over an inch long. 

 The male bird is now in constant attendance on them, and 

 when finely-chopped meat or green vegetables are thrown 

 to them he picks up pieces and holds them in his bill until 

 the young ones take them from him. They all scratch like 

 common fowls, and are fed principally on canary seed." 

 Green grass is a valuable help in their diet. 



N^est. — A loosely made bowl of grass placed in a slight 

 depression in corn or grass. 



