ANSERIFORMES 119 



Mr M. Makai of Paremarema, Auckland, says they are most active 

 agents in the spread of blackberries and gorse in the district. 



Mr Peacock reported them as common in the Bay of Plenty in 1 9 1 3 . 



Tasmanian Swamp Quail {Synoecus diemenensis) 



The Auckland Society reported a few in 1869. There is no indica- 

 tion in subsequent reports as to where the birds were liberated, or 

 whether they were ever seen again. Singularly enough, in June, 1916, 

 nearly half a century after the date of their introduction, a specimen, 

 caught at Pirongia in the south of the Auckland provincial district, 

 was brought to the Dominion Museum, Wellington. Evidently then, 

 some examples of the species still exist in the wild state, and are 

 probably mistaken for 5. australis, though it is fully a third larger 

 than the Australian species. 



Californian Mountain Quail ; Mountain Partridge 

 {Oreortyx pictus) 



The Auckland Society introduced three (out of 29 shipped) in 

 1876. They received nine from Mr T. Russell in 1877, and these were 

 turned out at Matamata. In 1881 a large number was imported, of 

 which 40 were liberated near Lake Omapere, 40 in the Upper 

 Thames district, and about 120 were kept in the gardens. In 1882 

 a further large number was introduced, and they were distributed all 

 over the provincial district. They never appear to have established 

 themselves, and Mr Cheeseman, writing in August, 1915, says: "it 

 is now many years since they have been observed." 



The Otago Society introduced 122 in 1881, and liberated half of 

 them at Gladbrook, Strath-Taieri, and the other half at Mataura 

 Bridge and on Venlaw Station. In 1882 another lot of 64 was im- 

 ported, and these were liberated at the foot of the Rock Pillar Range. 

 Nothing was ever seen or heard of them afterwards. 



Stubble Quail of Tasmania; Australian Quail; Stubble Partridge 

 {Coturnix pectoralis) 



According to Hutton (1871) this species was introduced into both 

 Auckland and Canterbury. 



Robert Kemp says "that they were introduced into the Hokianga 

 district in the seventies, but failed to establish themselves." 



Recently (191 8) several acclimatisation societies have been desirous 

 of re-introducing this bird, being unaware of the previous unsuccessful 

 attempts, and have obtained permission from the Department of 



