364



Mr. D. Seth-Smith,



from the point of view of the aviculturist it is sufficient to

regard S. australis as a single spcies inhabiting the whole of

Australia and Tasmania.


The Swamp Ouail is about 7J inches in length, and in its

general appearance resembles a very small Partridge. The

colour of the male is reddish-brown, most of the feathers having

greyish centres, and the whole being very finely pencilled with

zigzag black lines. The female is easily distinguished, being

chiefly brown, coarsely spotted and streaked with black, the

feathers of the back having whitish stripes down the centre.


Of the wild life of this species Gould writes as follows :—

“Although this bird and its allies are ordinarily known in Aus¬

tralia under the trivial name of Quails ( Coturnix ), they are really

more nearly allied to the Common Partridge of the British

Islands, so renowned for the goodness of its flesh, and for the

healthy pastime it annually affords to all who follow the sport of

the field. Although much more diminutive in size, the Austra¬

lian bird offers in many points of its economy a great similarity

to its antipodean ally. The localities most suited to its habits

are thick grassy flats and humid spots overgrown with herbage,

by the sides of rivers and water-holes. The call is very similar

to that of the Common Partridge, and like that bird it is found

in coveys of from ten to eighteen in number, which simul¬

taneously^ rise from the ground and pitch again within a hundred

yards of the spot whence they rose. It sits so close that it will

often admit of being nearly trodden upon before it will rise.

Pointers stand readily to it, and it offers perhaps better sport to

the sportsman than any other bird inhabiting Australia. Its

weight is about four ounces and three quarters, and its flesh is

delicious.”


It is only on very rare occasions that Synceacs aiistralis can

be purchased in this country^ in fact I have only once had an

opportunity of purchasing a pair, though I have quite recently

succeeded in getting a few brought direct from Australia.


It was on the 22nd of March this year that I succeeded

in purchasing a pair of these quails which had just arrived with

the pair of Tur?iix varia , whose history has already been related

in this magazine. When first loosed into a large aviary they



