Domestic coturnix, or Japanese quail, have been used for research in several disciplines at the Avian Sciences Department, Davis, since 1957…including investigations in environmental physiology, nutrition, genetics, cancer, environmental toxicology, and embryology. The small, fastmaturing birds allow savings in research time and money. Studies reported here show differences in viability, hatchability, fertility, egg production and weight and age at sexual maturity between the recently imported wild species and the domesticated coturnix…leading to speculation that the bird might still be established as a game bird in this country, despite previous unsuccessful attempts with the domesticated strains.