Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-19
Migratory Quail.

It Is not generally KNOWN tnat large
from Italy last year and liberated In various
parts In the United States. More than one
half OF the entire quantity were distributed In
common migratory quail of Europe. which for
centuries has been known to cross the Medi.
terranean, In passing from Its winter home In
rope retrnno aSan To p AfrIea IN }hs Ed
The migratory quail resembles in outward ap-
peaTance our American partridge, which are
called quail IN New England The migratory
quail Is one-third smaller than the New Eng
land bird, and the throat OF the male Is marked
with dark brown or black, extending from the
bill dOWnWardS.
Some young quail of the European species
were captured near ST. John, N. B., a few
months ago, though none were liberated nearer
that place than at St. stephen. Several were
heard and seen near Machias during last sum
mer and autumn. None were liberated nearer
than the Penopscot Valley, In the west or at
Calais, forty miles to the east This Is not re-
markable, however for this quail can fly fifty
miles an hour, and. unlike our American par
fridge or quail, 1t Is capable of long sustained
nights. Migratory or true quail multiply very
rapidly, and Judge Martin g. Everts, of Rut-
land, VT, who introduced them here, predicts
that In twenty years they will be the most nu-
merous game bird In America
The habits OF these birds in this country are
the same as In Europe. They arrive on their
nesting ground in May and migrate about the
end OF september, Their faVorite resorts are
meadows and fields OF grain. Their food con-
turn1p seed. They feed also on grasshopper5,
worms, insects and their eggs ana larvae The
female makes her nest In June July. 1t Is a
mere depression In the ground, surrounded bY
few straws, and contains from eight to four
teen greenish eggs, marked with large brown
spots. The notes OF the male. especially In
moe nights In summer are very clear
Ing, even before the wood-shrush or robin
thinks OF shaking up ais little feather bed the
STIR srHa the ornn no s Of the migratory quail
dious as the Boo Whites notes, they can be
neard a longer distance. After a preliminary
strut and a cultural cluck. the qual raises
himself to his full height. and then from ithree
70 eight times he repeats, as near as can be
Written, Pick-per-a-wick." 4 law was passed
last winter In Maine protecting migratory
quail fof three years and prescribing q severe
penalty on any person killing or In any way
interfering With them.
a most Interesting trait exhibited by these
oirds Is their love OF Old Ia UNITS. Although
travelling thousands of miles -trayefsing the
continent, indeed, in order TO spend the winter
IN IN warmer chimes, yet do they return North tn
Inc spring. not only TO the same state. but to
the same Wood-lOt, brock and mead DIV 10 which
they were reared. The Hon. Everett Smith
one OF the Maine Game Commissioners has re-
ce le numerous S letters In proof or this fact
Marenam. Mass. who says: ''In the town of
North falmouth, on Cape Col. is a long
wooded peninsula, known as NSes Point, and
owned OF Mr.. Downer. D0wner released
upon this point batch OF migratory Quail. In
time they bred, raised their YOUNG AMI disan.
peaIed. Tae following season two large Hicks
Vi migratory quail were found upon hat same
WOODED point, from which they had taken
their Tight the preceding year. Presumably
the TWO coVie5 started were but small portion
OF the birds that had returned to take posses
sion OF their Old quarters. Such Instances are
very encouraging for those northern and
western sportsinen VINO are interested In the
INTRODUCTION Into this country OF a RAPIDLY
preceding. thoroughly game bird. adapted 10
furnishing abundant sport, and able to protect
Itself by It's migrations from the deadly winters
OF the north and west."-The Hour.
Editor Forest and Stream: / am ia receipt OF
advice, under date OF January, rs, from Nc
Carl f. Braun, OF Messina, Sicily, By whom
THIS country was shipped. BE requests me to
make public his prices and terms FOR the pre-
sent season; which l ABLY do through your
OF one hundred birds each on board steamer,
TO provide food for the voyage. to prepay the
freight to New York, and TO effect marine in.
surancc against total loss, all for the price of
$50 per cage OF one hundred birds He re-
serves, however, the right TO cancel the orders
and return the money In case the flight OF
oirds during the coming season proves TO be SO
small that he cannot execute the orders with
out loss TO himself. Those who have received
birds from Mr.. Braun In previous years will
bear cheerful testimony TO the conscientious
manner In which he performed his part OF the
contract, and to the excellent condition In
which the birds arrived. The greatest loss
that came to my notice was six IRON one cage;
the average loss Was less than three per cent.
and IN many cases lot q single bird was lost.
The terms named by Xr. Braun are cash IN
advance; evidently the only terms upon which
1t IS possible for him TO deal With purchasers at
such distance. [ pnn the arrival OF the birds
they must be passed through the Custom
House duty free) and must be delivered 70 eX-
press companies, To be forwarded TO their re-
spectlVe destinations. AS this IS a trouble
some operation for parties at q distance. l
VIII, as In former years, at the request or Mr..
Braun, and In ordt 10 facilitate the impOTta-
Ion, attend TO Ii Iree OF CHARGE and Will also
/ receive ana forward TO Mr.. Braun any orders
( anu money Sc MT TO me By parties desiring to
import. NO orders are received excepting for
! IuI cages OF one hundred birds each, and the
/ price or large and small lots is the same, TO
VIII, $50 Tor each cage. The latest time to FOR.
/ ward an order With any possibility of having
| II filled Is april l; and the chances are more
! than even that orders received here so late aS
/ that cannot be filed. ~
| Those desiring to order from Mr.. Braun will
| please send 10 me as quickly as possible. and
certainly before April !, their orders with casa
! Enclosed to the amount or $50 fer each cage
, and with full address and name OF express
/ route preferred for shipping the birds from
! New YORK. l VIII buy the foreign exchange
| and send IL and the orders TO AIR. Braun after
! which my responsibility ends until the birds
| arrive in New York, when will see that they
| are passed through the Custom House and
| given 10 the express company designated BY
! The purchaser.
| AS some Of your readers may be Interested
to know how many migratory quail have al
| ready been imported, give below the exact
! figures for 1879 and 1850, and figures which
believe TO be correct for 1sI1 aud ISIS.
| Imported In 1871 200; 1873, 5000; 1879, 3.o4t
1885, 5,1e0; total. IS, $40. HORACE P. ToBkY.
| u OitUe1. street, Boston, Mass.
Manicure.