THE FRANCOLINS. 



125 



character from all the following species. Total length, 12-6 

 inches ; wing, d'd ; tail, 3*5 ; tarsus, 17. The 7;iale is provided 

 with a pair of long sharp spurs. 



Range. — Western South Africa, extending from the Orange 

 River to the Cunene River and inland to Lake Ngami. 



Habits. — The Close-barred Francolin is, according to Anders- 

 son, one of the commonest species in Damara and Great 

 Namaqua Land, where in favourable seasons the coveys often 

 contain ten to fourteen birds. It generally frequents the banks 

 of streams and perches much in trees, roosting among the 

 branches at night, and retiring there during the heat of the day 

 or on the approach of danger. This bird is always loath to fly 

 unless very hard pressed, when it dives at once into the nearest 

 thick tree and remains motionless; it generally prefers to 

 escape by running with extraordinary swiftness. Its cry is 

 extremely loud and harsh, and resembles "a succession of 

 hysterical laughs, at first slow, but increasing in rapidity and 

 strength, till they suddenly cease." 



Eggs. — Cream-coloured. Measurements, 17 by I'l inch. 



c. The following species have the m;ier webs of the primary 

 flight-feathers either mostly pale buff, or brown, largely 

 barred and mottled with chestnut or buff. 



XXVIII. THE GREY-STRIPED FRANCOLIN. FRANCOLINUS 

 GRISEOSTRIATUS. 



Francolinus griseost7'iatus, Ogilvie-Grant, Ibis, 1890, p. 349, 

 pi. X. ; id. Cat, B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 160 (1893). 



Adult Male. — Feathers of the upper-parts mostly dark chestnut, 

 inargi?ied 011 either side by a black a?id pearl-grey ba?td ; fore- 

 neck and chest very similarly marked ; rest of under-parts buff, 

 with wide dull rufous shaft-stripes ; quills and tail chestnut, 

 marked with black. A pair of sharp spurs. 



Range — West Africa; River Coanza, 



