74 Pkacticai, Bird-Kickping. 



X. 



QUAILS. 



By D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S. 



The Quails and their allies form a group of little birds 

 that are very attractive inmates of the aviary. They are mostly 

 hardy, and n)any of them will breed quite readily in captivity 

 providing the aviary in which they are kept possesses certain 

 necessary features. It should be of fairly large size, or rather 

 should cover a good sized area, though it need not be very lofty. 

 If possible it should not be less than from thirty to forty feet 

 square, but if twice or three times this size, so much the belter. 

 The greater part should be turfed and planted with clumps of 

 bushes, and the grass allowed to grow to its full height during 

 the summer. The birds should have access to a well-lighted 

 dry shed where they can indulge in a dust bath whenever they 

 feel so inclined. 



The species of Quails and Quail-like birds are very 

 numerous, and it is impossible here to mention them all or to 

 go into details as to the special treatment necessary for some of 

 the rarer kinds. Those which are most likely to be kept in cap- 

 tivity are the Common Quail (^Cotioiiix coluniix) and its allies 

 the Rain Quail, the Harlequin Quail, and the Australian Quail ; 

 the Chinese Quail (^Excalfactoiia chinensis) \ the Australian 

 Swamp Quail {Sy?io€Ciis aiistjalts) ; the Jungle Bush Quail (Per- 

 diaila asiaticd), and some of the American Quails, amongst 

 which is the commonest and most beautiful of all as an aviary 

 bird, the Californian Quail. 



All of the foregoing aie hardy, and easily kept on a simple 



