INDIAN PARTRIDGE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 11

INDIAN PARTRIDGE

Acclimatisation in N.Z. CANTERBURY OPINIONS Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, August 15. A statement made by the chairman of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, Mr. F. E. McKenzie, that chukkor, or Indian partridge, would not make an all-round game bird, as it would thrive only in certain districts, and the statement of another member that when liberated these imported birds would make straight for the snow-line, are not supported by men in Christchurch, who have been interested in the importation of chukkor by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. , It was pointed out that so far there had not been sufficient experience of the bird in New Zealand for its habits or its value as a game bird to be assessed, but North Canterbury’s experience so far gave no ground for the impression that the bird will not be a good game bird. The secretary of the North Canterbury society said that reports made to the society indicated that the bird was doing well where it had been liberated. In the Ashburton district it seemed to have increased in numbers, and so far the experiment of importing chukkor had gone along satisfactorily. Mr. C. H. Lawrence, of the council of the society, said that it was known that chukkor was a high country bird, and experience in the Ashburton territory, where the birds have been liberated, is that the birds have done exceedingly well in the hill country, and already have spread over a vast area of country, thus giving the indication that they should prove excellent sporting birds, though it was possible that they would not spread to the plains. It was thought in the circumstances the birds that, could be established in the foothills and spread to the snowline would be more likely to be acclimatised successfully and to prove better sporting birds. Mr. C. F. Champion, a member of tho council, said it remained to be proved whether the birds would make for the snow-liue or would • spread round to other areas. It might be that in making for the snow-line in India they sought n temperate climate, which they could find lower down in New Zealand.