The Quail 3 



of the country heard of the possibility of adding 

 to our list of upland game, and money for the 

 purpose was speedily forthcoming. It was the 

 idea that the migratory quail could be brought 

 here in sufficient numbers to establish the species. 

 The original importations were released at vari- 

 ous points in the Northern states and Canada 

 early in spring, the promoters of the venture 

 believing the birds would breed in the strange 

 covers, and that their produce, at least, would 

 establish their hereditary instinct by moving 

 southward at the approach of cold weather and 

 returning to their birthplaces the spring following. 



Theoretically, this to the average sportsman 

 appeared a simple proposition, but the more sci- 

 entific minority were, to say the least, sceptical. 

 All, however, were more or less interested and 

 curious concerning the expected northern migra- 

 tion the following spring. When the season had 

 swung round, tidings of the new game were 

 eagerly awaited. The waiting proved a trifle 

 over-long ; indeed, it is extremely likely that the 

 long-looked-for migrants, if ever they took to 

 flight, forgot to turn about. 



The fate of these birds is problematical. 

 Turned loose at random as too many of them 

 were, amid strange cover, food, and surroundings, 

 and exposed to attack by various unfamiliar foes, 

 perhaps the majority of them perished not far 



