ANSERIFORMES 127 



seeds of gorse in its crop. On being sown, every one of these seeds 

 germinated." This is interesting, as showing the food on which they 

 live, but these birds do not pass seeds ; they are ground up before 

 reaching the stomach. Reports from north of Auckland, from Rotorua 

 and from the Bay of Plenty all tell the same tale ; the birds are most 

 destructive to young grass and clover seedlings, and in many parts 

 farmers sow poisoned grain with the seed in the hope of checking the 

 nuisance. They are also accused of spreading the blackberry. 



At the present time (19 16-19) Californian quail are very abundant 

 in the Taranaki district, and are met with on Mt Egmont in summer 

 time up to 6000 feet. 



Virginian Quail; Colin; "Bob-White" {Ortyx virginiana) 



The Wellington Society in 1898 introduced about 400 birds, which 

 were distributed as follows : 80 went to Otago, 40 to Canterbury, 20 to 

 Stratford, 20 to New Plymouth, and the rest were liberated in the 

 Wellington district. In 1899 another large lot was introduced and 

 distributed : 22 to Southland, 46 to Otago, 90 to Canterbury, 70 to 

 Blenheim, 100 to Wellington, 60 to Wanganui, 44 to Stratford, 32 

 to New Plymouth, 30 to Napier, 56 to Waikaremoana, 6 to Gisborne, 

 and 200 to Auckland. 



In 1900 the Otago Society reported that "they were still to be 

 seen in the neighbourhood of where they were liberated, but no young 

 birds have been seen." There is no further record of them. 



In 1902 the WelHngton Society report: "These birds have so far 

 been a disappointment; reliable information as to their having been 

 seen during the past year is difficult to obtain." The Pahiatua sub- 

 committee report says : "they seem to have disappeared." The Marton 

 sub-committee report them as " doing well, and that they have been 

 seen with young broods." 



In the same year the Taranaki Society report: "Virginian Quail 

 are steadily increasing and will, in a year or two, afford good sport." 

 In the 1904 report we read: "Virginian Quail seem to have dis- 

 appeared." 



In 1909 the Auckland Society report "the Virginian Quail have 

 almost disappeared." 



Prairie Hen {Tympanuchus americanus) 



The Canterbury Society imported 17 (out of 28 captured) in 

 1879 from Topeka, Kansas, and turned them out near Mount 

 Thomas. In 1880 it was reported that "the prairie chickens which 

 were obtained from Nebraska (?) last year, have not been seen 



