SWIFT-FLYING OR BUTTON QUAIL 9 
SWIFT-FLYING OR BUTTON QUAIL 
Austroturnix velox velox 
Very much smaller than the Painted Quail, and, as 
its specific name indicates, a bird of swift flight, this 
bird's true home is in the interior ; and although 
in good seasons the grass-lands of Northern Victoria 
attract a considerable southward migration (especially 
when drought prevails farther inland), very few 
traverse the Dividing Range, and fewer still reach 
the country about Geelong. Those that do come — 
a k^en Quail-shot may find a brace or two in his 
season's bag — are usually in the company of Stubble 
Quail. The breeding-habits are similar to those 
of the Painted Quail, but no local instance of the birds 
nesting has been recorded. 
In May, 1902, these birds were shot in greater 
numbers than usual in the Western District. That, 
it will be noted, was the year of a great drought in 
New South Wales. 
PLAIN WANDERER 
Pedionomus torquatus 
Collared dweller on the plains " is what his scien- 
tific name signifies, and seldom it is that one can accord 
such unqualified approval to an Australian bird's 
original baptism. For the collar of buff ajid white 
