The evening world., 1892-02-15
CHINESE GAME BIRDS.
Quail Imported by Californian
Celestials for Fighting Purposes.
They Are Very Pugnacious and Az
ford Much Sport.

A coop OF Cnlnese make, containing
Icouple of hundred small-sized partridge
like looking birds. hns attracted the at
tention of passers-by at the store Of Sang
Snng Il Co.. 745 Washington street. dur
' ing the past week, says the San Francisco
Erdn,iner. The birds at first sight look
like miniature bob whites" or enstern
huail but on close inspection show con-
biderable difference in their build and
actions from the Virginia bird.
They are the Cotumnix Excalfactoria or
Chinese quail. Those here are beautiful
little specimens about four inches long
with light seal-brown plumags and white
markings, and as chock full of life and
| just as bright as If they were in their own
brush instead Of the close quarters of q
cage.
On inquiry OF the proprietor as to their
use. it was learned that at this time of the
yenr they are very plentiful in China
and that large numbers are trapped and
exported to Burmah. Hindostan aud other
! Eastern countries where there are Chinese
Residents and few come here. When
mot molested the little fellows like to stay
about the houses and farms and become
ypartially domestica.ed.
They are imported solely for fighting
purposes. the males being very pug
nacious. like other polygamous birds,
: and much money is lost and won OH the
combat
The little fighters are "heeled" and
handled" by regular trainers, who
make business of collecting good strong
birds and arranging mains of twenty or
thirty birds before select crowds of man
darins or merchants.
The fights are quick and decisive, as
the birds are heeled with needle pointed
gaffs and go at each other as soon as put
in the pit. an affair made Of tin and only
about eighteen inches square.
The lot imported for the amusement of
the Chinatown sports have nearly all
been spoken for and considerable money
Is being invested for or against the differ
ent trainers selections.
In preparing the qusils for the pit only
growth and hearty habits being pre-
ferred. They are accustomed to hand
, ling aud the presence of men and are fed
all they will eat of hard-boiled egg,
scraped raw beef. freshly caught field
bugs and cleaned grass seed.
Several times each day they are made
to run and fly about a room until they
have been we'll exercised but not eI-
hausted. The quails during training are
kept each in cage by itself. otherwise
they would soon destroy one another. be-
cause under high feeding and regular ex-
ercise they soon become little demons in
temper nnl will fight anything.
Whap in narfack copIitiop and bo Ia
tails of Il match have been arranged, the
birds are trimmed somewhat as game
chickens are. AIRY excess of plunage
about the pinions and body is cut away
with sharp shears. care being exercised
not to nick the skin. Then the birds are
heavy little more clipping is done.
Then they are put together in the pit,
where they fight under complex system
of rules.
1t was believed at one time that the
Chinese, quails, would easily become ac-
able addition to the game birds of the
State. Twelve hundred dozen of them
We're purchased by the Fish Commission
and distributed in localities considered
| suitable and where they could be pro-
tected from destruction by sportfmen.
Napa, salapo; Alameda. Santa Clara,
were stocked. and the brown strangers
seemed at first to be perfectly suited with
their surroundings. They fed about the
grass fields and would even venture into
farin-yards in search of food. But it was
noticed that they came in smaller num-
bers, and as time wore on only strageler
now and then was seen.
They are neither shot nor trapped and
the only tenable hypothesis under which
TO explain their disappearance was that,
being ground-brds by nature never tax
ing 10 trees, the vermin had destroyed
them. California. outside the towns is
no'abie for the variety and abundance of
poaching animals and reptiles. such as
raccoons, coyotes. polecats. wildcats and
tie like. 10 all of which the easily cap
tured Chinese quails afford a desirable
food supply.
In so far rs can be learned not a single
trial in introducing the birds has been
successful. which is to he regretted be.
cause the quails are most desirable from
an epicurean standpoint.