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3. Notes by Sir James Hector on a collection of Virginian quail (Coturnix) recently imported by the Acclimatisation Society.
Sir James Hector said the specimens were some of those that died on the passage, and were most artistically mounted by Mr. Yuill, taxidermist to the Museum. He reminded members that quails had a worldwide distribution. The common quail of Europe was migratory, and flew by night, and was shot and snared in thousands in southern Europe for the supply of the market in large cities. During the migrations the males arrived first, and, as they did not pair like the closely allied partridge, but were polygamous, they indulged in furious contests for supremacy, and thus fell a ready prey to the fowler. New Zealand had a native quail (Coturnix novæ-zealandiæ), which was a very fine bird, and abounded, in the early days of settlement, in the open grass lands of Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, and afforded excellent sport, as many as two or three dozen pairs being considered a fair morning's bag. Now they were quite extinct, as, being ground-birds, they fell an easy prey to the many enemies introduced into the colony. The brown quail of Australia was a closely allied species, but was a smaller bird. A few had been turned out in the North of Auckland and up the Wanganui Valley, but they had not thriven, no doubt for the same reasons which had led to
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the destruction of the native species. The Californian or plumed quail was introduced more than twenty years ago, and had spread all over the islands with great vigour, and in many parts become quite abundant. It had the advantage of being to some extent a roosting bird, and thus escaped a certain class of enemies, but it seemed to be gradually succumbing to the continued attacks of fowlers with nets, who caught them in large numbers for the market and for the supply of canneries; and it was rare now to see the large flocks of this Californian quail which used to be common in many parts of the country. The Virginian quail (Perdix (Ortyx) virginiana) was often termed the “American partridge,” or the “bob-white,” which represented its clear call-note. Its flesh was excellent in autumn, as it fed on grain, and took a lot of it. It sheltered in the low trees and brushwood round the open fields, and in winter became very bold, approaching human habitations in search of food, and boldly fighting with poultry for a share of their grain. At this season as many as ten or fifteen were frequently caught at one time under a drop-coop trap. This bird was the largest of the quails, and laid fifteen to twenty-four pure-white eggs under the shelter of a grass-tuft. The chicks ran about as soon as they were out of the shells, and the little ones were led off by their mothers to the best feeding-places. These quail roosted on the top of a knoll in the middle of open ground, sitting in a close circle with their heads directed outwards and their tails touching, so that they were on the alert against attack.
Mr. Tregear exhibited a cone-shaped frame of cane covered with cobwebs.
He said the exhibit was from Tanna, New Hebrides, where similar cones were used as head-gear by dancers. In Samoa these frames were put in dark places, where they were spun over by poisonous spiders. They were then used as a means of inflicting a cruel punishment, which consisted in placing the cones on the heads of offending natives, who suffered terribly from the bites of the insects.
Mr. Hustwick said a similar thing was used in Madagascar, only it was an enclosure with the spiders in the roof.
The following exhibits were shown, and explained by Sir James Hector:—