112 NATUEAL HISTOEY SKETCHES. 



desolate open stony rises and plains so common to this 

 country ; is a noisy, restless bird, in habits much resem- 

 bling the British lapwing; and as they fly round the 

 shooter, they wake the echoes with unvarying cries ; and 

 their wild desultory call-note is peculiarly adapted to the 

 barren regions which they frequent. Neither of these 

 birds are strictly game, but we could often sell them at 

 Is. and 1*. Qd. per couple. 



I have not the least doubt that the English partridge 

 would thrive well in the cultivated districts here; in 

 fact, I should think this was the very country for them, 

 and on account of the vast quantities of ants, they could 

 at all times obtain a good supply of food. I do not think 

 the quail eats the ant's eggs. The pheasant has been 

 imported from its native home ; but, I believe, has as yet 

 only been confined to aviaries. I do not consider this 

 country nearly so well adapted to the habits of this bird, 

 or any of the grouse tribe, as to those of the partridge. 

 The absence of the pine and larch in these forests would 

 be much against the habits of the pheasant in a wild 

 state, and I do not know what seeds or berries in these 

 forests would supply them with food; for we have no 

 acorn or beech mast here. That they can obtain food in 

 a wild state is, however, proved by the fact of a cock- 

 pheasant being shot within a few miles of Melbourne, 

 out of a patch of tea-tree, a few years ago. It has been 

 turned out loose in New Zealand, and, in one estate 

 I believe, they are fast increasing. As to the grouse, 

 although there are miles of barren moorlands in most 



