Vol. XII. 



1913 



Quails in Victoria. 



503 



ist Feb., 15th Feb., ist Mar., 1 5 th Mar. and later, 



3 6 24 7 



42 returns, 39 give dates. 4 request a year's rest for birds. 



Other States. 



Major J. M. Semmens, Chief Inspector of Game and Fisheries for 

 Victoria, held a conference at his office, Melbourne, on i6th Decem- 

 ber, 1912, to determine the proper date for opening the Quail 

 season. Delegates were present from the Field Naturalists' Club, 

 Bird Observers' Club, R.A.O.U., gun clubs, and other associations. 

 After debate, the delegates were unanimous in the opinion that 

 the ist of March should be recommended as the opening date. 

 The conference elicited one most important fact — namely, that 

 the Painted Quail {Turnix varia) and Brown or Sw^amp-Quail 

 {Synoecus atistralis) were becoming alarmingly scarce, and complete 

 seasons of rest were suggested for these species. 



