252 Correspondence.


SYNCECUS AUSTRALIS IN NEW ZEALAND:

THE NEW ZEALAND QUAIL.


Sir, — It was with pleasure that I read your article 011 the Quails of

the genus Cotnmix in the November number of our Avicultural Magazine,

and in showing the article to some of my friends in the locality they assured

me that the New Zealand Quail is not extinct, at an}' rate in these far

northern parts of the North Island.


To make sure whether the Quail of this part is C. novat-zealandicz or

not I take the liberty of sending to you a skin of one which I obtained in

March of this year. Will 3'ou be good enough to pass your judgment upon

it as to whether it is or is not C. novcs-zealandics as I am here isolated from

works of reference.


The Quail of this species (represented b}' the skin) is not what one

can call numerous here, but is to be seen occasionally in pairs or quite

small parties. This summer (now just closed) seems to have been a

favourite one for Quail and other ground birds owing to the rainfall being

frequent and above the average with the consequent check upon the bush

flies which do so much to decimate bird life.


Of course if this should turn out to be C. novce-zealandic? there is

quite a possibility of your yet being able to keep and breed them in

captivity.


Trusting you will have a successful avicultural year.


Robin Kemp.

Umawera, Hokianga, New Zealand,


April 7, 1907.


[The above letter is very interesting, but unfortunately the Quail sent

is not C. novce-zealandice but the Swamp Quail {Synoecus australis) of Aus-

tralia. So far as we are aware however this species was not known to exist

in New Zealand. Mr. Ogilvie-Grant, in his Handbook to the Game Birds

gives its range as " South Eastern New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania,"

and Dr. Sharpe has not added to this range in his Hand List of Birds (1S99),

therefore Mr. Kemp's discovery is of extreme interest. — Ed.]



NESTING OF AVOCETS.

A pair of Avocets in the Waders' Aviary at the Zoological Gardens

have made a nest near the north-west corner and the bird can be seen from

the front sitting. We cannot recall another instance of Avocets nesting in

captivity. It is sincerely to be hoped that a brood may be successfully

reared.


LORIES WASTING.


Sir, — During the last year or so I have lost two Lories ; and Mr.

Gill's diagnosis has been, " Syncope owing to exhaustion from nial-

assimilation of food."





