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Tiirkej'." The "Bush-fowl " is a Francolin, F. bicalca- 

 ratus, a rather larger bird than the common Partridge, 

 at least this is by far the commonest species, though 

 another occurs, F. lathami, but only rarely ; the 

 latter differs from tlie common Bush-fowl in having a 

 black throat and fore-neck (these parts being white in 

 F. bicalcarahis), and in having in the male only one 

 spur instead of two on each foot. The first-named is 

 common throughout the Protectorate, and forms by 

 far the largest portion of a Gambian sportsman's bag, 

 to which when young it is no mean addition, 

 as at that age it is tender and altogether excellent 

 eating. In some places, where the cover is good but 

 not high, they get up well, something like English 

 birds, but among the bamboo or in the open after 

 the grass has been burnt off, they run along out of 

 range in front of one and are difficult to get near. I 

 personally find them hard to hit at all times, though 

 large bags are frequently made by good shots, for 

 instance 20 brace a day (and a day here only means 

 an hour or so in the morning and evening), a recent 

 bag brought in by our best shot. 



(2) The " Rock Bush-fowl " is Ptilopachys fusca, 

 a small dull brown bird with a cocked-up tail, which 

 looks exactly like a hen bantam, and which is found 

 in small parties among the rocks of the ironstone 

 ridges which intersect the country. 



(3) The Guineafowl {Niimida meleagris) is in 

 places very common all along the river. 



(4) The " Barbary Quail" is a Sand-Grouse, 

 Pterocles quadricinctus, which is found in small parties 

 everywhere, generally sleeping during the day on the 

 ground, being apparently particularly fond of recently 

 burnt patches, and becoming active as dusk comes on 

 and during the evening. 



