NOVTTATES ZOOLOOICAE XXIV. 1917. 291 



occur, is, in my opinion, quite indistinguishable from thornei. We would thus 

 have a mo^t extraordinary distribution of this dark form, which requires further 

 investigation. 



Tliere is, moreover, a third form of F. hicnlcaratus. The species occurs 

 also in Western Marocco, i.e. within the palaearctic region. 



According to Reid (Ibis, 1885, p. 251) the late Olcese, natural history 

 dealer in Tanger, received six specimens alive, which were caught by natives 

 inland of Casa Blanca (not Cape Blanco, as Ogilvie-Grant says), and the same 

 autlior says that this Francolin is said to be "common" near Mogador. Irby 

 states that it is found as far north as Rabat. 



The specimens received by Olcese died and were converted into skins. 

 From Mogador several consignments of live specimens have been received in 

 England, but I doubt that the bird is " common " near that town, for F. W. 

 Riggenbach, who very successfully collected there for about two years, in spite 

 of our repeated requests for Francolins, failed to come across it. In fact, I am 

 not aware of a single Francolin obtained in a wild state in Marocco. Of the 

 birds received by Olcese I have examined three, two in the Dresser collection, 

 kindly lent me by the authorities of the Manchester Museum, and one in the 

 British Museum. These birds differ at a glance from our series of topo-typical 

 bicalcaratus, the crown being not so pale and more reddish, I should say cinnamon 

 rufous or dark reddish cinnamon. The rest of the upperside is more rufescent, 

 the back slightly darker. The underside is also less light, agreeing with that 

 of F. b. thornei. I am convinced that this Maroccan form is a subspecies distinct 

 both from F. b. bicalcaratu.s and thornei. The colour-differences of the upperside 

 are not likely to be, the markings of the underside cannot be, due to captivity. 

 Moreover, with these three birds agrees absolutely a well-made skin in the Tring 

 Museum, which is evidently that of a wild bird. Unfortunately its locahty is 

 unknown It is labelled " Francolinus bicalcordus" (.sic!). South Africa, Dr. 

 Smith. Now, it is certain that no F. bicalcaratu.s occurs in South Africa, there- 

 fore this specimen must bo from somewhere else, and it might just as well be 

 from Marocco as from elsewhere. Thus far the Maroccan bird would be " all 

 right," but the male collected by Giffard in Gambaga, Togoland Hinterland, is 

 also indistinguishable from the Maroccan birds, and one of F. b. thornei from 

 Sierra Leone is on the upperside like it too, while two from the Senegal in the 

 British Museum (G. Blaine coll.) and one of Riggcnbach's Senegal males have 

 similarly reddish crowns of the head. The throat feathers of the Maroccan 

 birds are not quite creamy white, but pale reddish cinnamon on their edges, 

 but this is probably of no consequence, as it is found also in some thornei and 

 indicated in some Senegal specimens. 



The fact of the occurrence of this tropical African species in Marocco is so 

 interesting, that it must be emphasised, and I therefore — though, after all the 

 explanations I have given, I am well aware of the risk and possibility of adverse 

 criticism — propose to separate the Maroccan Francolin and call it : 



Francolinus bicalcaiatos ayesha subsp. nov.* 



Type : cj ad., said to be from Rabat, in Marocco, in the Dresser Collection 

 now in Manchester. 



* Ayesha (in the Maghrebin Aisha) was the favourite wife of Mohammed, and a frequent name 

 in Mohammedan countries. 



