The Australian Brown Quail and the French Revolution

The Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) is a small, plump, ground-dwelling bird native to mainland Australia, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea, some eastern Indonesian Islands, and Timor. It's also been introduced to New Zealand and Fiji.
These little birds are surprisingly common, even in suitable urban parkland, although they're cryptic and seldom noticed.
The story of the Brown Quail's discovery, and its description in 1792 by the great French naturalist Louis Bosc, during the chaos of the French Revolution, is a remarkable one.

[@cjod33]

Really interesting, thanks. Nicely done.
It was only this afternoon that I watched a group of Quail cross the road in Thora.

[@indyreno2933]

The Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) is a small gamebird native to Oceania, it is the only recognized species of the genus Synoicus, this is one of the smallest gamebirds native to Oceania, its closest living relative is the Stubble Quail (Nesortyx pectoralis), which is the sole living species of the genus Nesortyx following the extinction of the New Zealand Quail (Nesortyx novaezelandiae).

[@rayatdte]

"You can't keep a good naturalist down", says Gavin, chuckle from me.

[@gafrers]

Always Quality

[@jackavalon8366]

During the 1930s my grandfather hunted stubble quail to feed his family. He reckoned that when they flushed, they always crossed before they dropped back into the scrub - so if you timed your shot right you got two birds for your expensive shotgun cartridge.

[@Adrian-lc6jq]

What was the reasoning for them to cross

[@jackavalon8366]

Who would have thought that such an unassuming little bird is part of a fascinating bit of history. Thanks for a great tale

[@possm1]

Yeah. I always do a bit about the scientific describer in my species pieces and when I saw the date, and that he was French, it excited my curiosity and everything just kind of spilled out!