QUAILOLOGY - LETTERS & CLIPPINGS. 51 



The propagation of game birds such as the California Valley 

 Quail in confinment is expensive and requires a great deal of 

 attention. From what experience I have had, I believe that 10 

 pairs of quail will produce more young in their natural state 

 than 50 pairs will or can be made to produce in confinment. 



When one has a piece of cover where quail are breeding, he 

 should allow no shooting at anything during the entire close or 

 breeding season. To allow shooting in the vicinity, of ground 

 when quail are breeding disturbs them and they will not do 

 near as well as if they were left entirely alone and in no way 

 disturbed or frightened. They will pair earlier, lay more eggs, 

 and I have known them to raise two broods of young in one 

 year when they have been entirely undisturbed in any manner. 



In my opinion the California Valley Quail is the gamiest as well 

 as the most beautiful of the whole quail family. 



Walter R. Welch. 



Rearing Quail In Confinement. 



Becbeation, N. Y. City. ($1 00 per year.) 



Union City, Pa. 



In answer to David Shafer's questions in February Recrea- 

 tion, would say I have bred many quail in captivity, and with 

 considerable success. 



It is best to get birds late in the fall for breeding, and keep 

 them through the winter, as they lose much of their shyness, 

 if properly cared for, by spring. 



My breeding pens were 12 foot long, 8 feet wide, and 7 feet 

 high. The entire front and 2-3 of the roof were made of woven 

 wire, one inch mesh. The back and sides were boarded up; 

 also about 1-3 of the roof. The pens should have no floor. To 

 keep out rats, sink one inch mesh wire netting into the ground 

 about 13 inches deep. Rats are the worst enemies of young 

 quail in captivity. Care must be taken that the ground is free 



