INDIAN GAME BIRDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 140, 16 June 1932, Page 8

INDIAN GAME BIRDS

IMPORTATION OF CHUKOR. FURTHER SHIPMENT PLANNED. AUCKLAND, June 10. A further 50 brace of chukor, Indian game birds, will be imported by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, following a decision reached at last evening’s meeting of the council of the society. Of a consignment of 680 shipped from Calcutta by the Narbada, which reached Auckland last month, only 23 birds survived, the unusually high rate of mortality being attributed to excessive heat experienced at Calcutta and Rangoon. “We must not be disheartened by this one unfortunate experience, for chukor previously have been imported quite successfully,” said Mr. H. C. Savage, whose suggestion that 100 more birds should be imported in December. during the cool period in India, was adopted. It was pointed out that in subsequent shipments smaller consignments and improved arrangements during transit would lessen the likelihood of deaths from heat, especially if the birds were imported during the cool season in India. Or the 23 birds of the recent shipment which reached Auckland alive, 19 are now at Motuihi Island in quarantine, where they are reported to be making excellent progress. As there are too few birds to make their liberation practicable, the chukor will bo entrusted to Mr. T. Wise, of Te Rapa who breeds game birds to the order of the society. An endeavour will be made to mate the birds and rear their young. Six of the birds, which will come out of quarantine next week, are the property of the Wellington society, but these also will probably be sent to Te Rapa for breeding purposes.