where the black dots are more numerous." Mr. L,ow obtained

them in January, 1873, and he states that the native name of the

species is " Burong puyu puyu."


Dr. Russ informs us that since 1870, single pairs of the

Chinese Quail have been occasionally imported ; that it is much

sought after for the bird-room, and has on several occasions been

bred ; that according to Mr. E. Berin, who indeed was the

first to breed it, it is shy and timid, needs a place of retirement,,

one of which he provided in the form of a straw covering

leaning against the back wall of the cage or bird-room. " At

the breeding- season the male and female are continually

together, the former being gentle and watchful ; both build the

nest ; every disturbance is to be avoided.


From the experience of this and other breeders, Dr. Russ

gathers that the laying consists of from four to seven clear

brownish, generally dark dotted eggs. Incubation lasts from

sixteen to eighteen daj^s. The nestling-down is yellowish, and

the young acquire their full colouring when three months old.


Early in the present year, a good many pairs of this Quail

came into the Eondon market, and were offered to the public at

prices even lower than those noted by Dr. Russ. Two pairs were

offered to me, and I was so delighted with the colouring of these

quaint little things that I gladl)^ added them to my collection.

My experience has not altogether coincided with that of Mr.

Berin, as I shall now show.


When first introduced into a tolerably large aviary I found

the Chinese Quails exceedingly nervous, so that when I entered

the aviary they would fly recklessly upwards, striking their

heads against the wire netting under the glass roofing and

falling heavily to the earth ; but no sooner did they perceive

that my intentions were never hostile, than they contented

themselves with merelj'- running out of my way or leaping in a

surprising manner to a raised bank of earth, bounded in front by

a wall nearly two feet high from the sanded floor.


At one end of the bank above noted, I provicled a place of

retirement by sticking a row of fir-twigs into the earth about six

inches from the back wall : behind this partial screen the Quails

often sat down during the day-time, sometimes scratching a

shallow depression in the soil and dragging in a little hay and

a few feathers ; but at other times they settled down all together

in an open corner of the aviary upon the sand, and at night

they frequently went to roost in another open corner upon a

cemented wall.



