92 



No. 60. — CoTUKNix Nov^ Zelandije, Q\WJ. 

 Koi-eke. 

 Quail. 



(See also Vol. ii., p. 6Q.) 



Tlie most useful and important order, Gcdlince, lias here but one indigenous 

 representative, in the once well known, but now rare Quail ; the rapid declen- 

 sion in its numbers, and indeed, threatened extei'mination, may fairly be dated 

 from the settlement of the European population in these Islands. 



Bush fires in our southern districts have been the chief cause of its disap- 

 pearance ; many settlers profess to believe that stocking runs with sheep 

 occasioned its destruction. To this we demur, for the effect of extensive bush 

 fires on the habitat of this excellent game bird, has come under our own 

 personal observation. In the early part of the year 1857, a large part of the 

 country on the southern side of the Ashburton, high above the gorge, had been 

 burnt in the previous year ; on the opj^osite, or northern side, known now as 

 Clint Hills, the grass presented no signs of ever having been fired, and 

 abounded with Quail — they were flushed every few yards ; whilst we never saw 

 a Quail on the opposite bank of the river, their food and shelter having been 

 alike destroyed. Not a sheep had been on either side of the river. ■ 



But though very rarely met with, yet it is occasionally observed in several 

 remote and secluded localities. We have had the good fortune to be presented 

 with some fine specimens which had been procured from the neighbourhood of 

 "The Paddock," on the West Coast road from Christchurch to Hokitika, a 

 locality where they appeared in considerable numbers for some time. 



The male has the upper surface ferruginous brown, with varied black and 

 dark brown markings, a narrow whitish streak following each side of the shaft 

 of each feather ; top of the head rich brown, streaked with very dark brown, 

 bufiy-marked feathers intermixed ; beak horn black, excej^t at the extreme 

 point ; nostril covered with membrane ; a line over the eye, cheeks, and throat, 

 rufous, with a faint blackish curved mark just above the line of the gape ; 

 primaries dull smoky brown ; secondaries edged with pale brown, marbled on 

 the outer web with bufi" and dark brown ; under surface ferruginous ; breast 

 marked with black and white ; abdomen white ; thighs bufi" ; irides bright 

 hazel-brown ; tarsi dull flesh colour. Bill from gape 8 lines ; wing 4 inches 

 9 lines ; tarsus 9 lines ; length 8 inches 3 lines ; weight 7f ounces. 



The female is not so rufous about the cheeks and throat, has a darker tinge 

 of colour generally ; abdomen almost buff". Weight barely 7 ounces. The 

 feathers on the thighs are light and flocculent, those on the abdomen are slaty 

 black, tipped with white, or bufiy white, so closely arranged as to give that 

 part of the bird a whitish or buif colour. 



Although the sexes differ but little in point of size, yet they are easily 



