168 PHASIANID-E. 



36. Francolinus hildebrandti. 



Francolinus (Scleroptera) hildebrandti, Cabanis, J. f. 0. 1878, 

 pp. 206, 243, pi. iv. fig. 2 [Teita Dist.]. 



Francolinus hildebrandti, Fisch. Zeit. ges. Orn. i. p. 382 (1884) 

 [Nivasha L. : Chaga Dist.] ; id. J. f. O. 1885, p. 120 ; Grant, 

 Ann. 8,- Mag. N. H. (6) iv. p. 145 (1889) [Masai : Kilimanjaro]; 

 Hunter, in Willouqhby^s East Africa and its Big Game, App. i. 

 p. 292 (1889); Matschie, J.f. 'O. 1889, p. 340; Reich. J.f. O. 

 1890, p. 77 ; Grant, Ann. Mag. N. H. (6) vii. p. 144 (1891) ; SchaecJc, 

 Mem. Soc. Zool. Fr. iv. p. 364 (1891) : Grant, Ibis, 1892, p. 49; 

 Sharpe, Ibis, 1892, p. 552 [Lake Nivasha]. 



Francolinus altumi, Fischer ^ Reich. J.f. 0. 1884, p. 179, pi. ii. 

 [Mt. Meru; Mauri, Pangani E.] ; Fischer, J.f. O. 1885, p. 120 

 [Lake Nivasha] ; Fischer, Zeit. ges. Orn. i. p. 386 (1884) [Pangani 

 R. & Chaga Dist.] ; Shelley, P. Z. S. 1885, p. 230 [Kilimanjaro] ; 

 Reich. J.f. 0. 1887, p. 51 [Ussandawi] ; Shelley, P. Z. S. 1889, 

 p. 370 [Useri E.] ; Schaeck, Mem. Soc. Zool. Fr. iv. p. 365 (1891). 



Adult male. Plumage of the upper parts similar to F. natalensis, 

 but none of the feathers of the back and scapulars have black shaft- 

 streaks. Primaries and secondaries dark brown, vermiculated ■with 

 rufous on the outer web. Ear-coverts dark brown. Feathers of 

 lores, superciliary stripe and sides of the face, throat and neck black, 

 edged with white ; those of the chin and middle of the throat white, 

 with an oval or round subterminal black spot. Feathers of the chest, 

 breast, and belly white, with an irregularly shaped black spot 

 covering most of the basal half, and a large heart-shaped black spot 

 at the extremity. Thighs and under tail-coverts buff, barred with 

 rufous. Tail, like the rest of the upper parts, reddish brown, with 

 wavy vermiculations of black. Two pairs of spurs, the upper pair 

 blunt. Iris brown ; upper mandible black, lower mandible and 

 legs coral-red; feet dusky. Total length 13"5 inches, wing 7*5, 

 tail 3-8, tarsus 2-2. 



In younger male specimens the heart-shaped spots on the chest 

 and rest of underparts are browner, and many of those on the breast 

 are mottled with rufous buff. 



In a still younger specimen the underparts generally resemble 

 those of the female, but are paler, and most of the feathers of the 

 chest, breast, and flanks are mottled with black, and here and there 

 margined with buff, like those of the adult male. The base of the 

 throat and front of the neck resemble the adults, but the ground- 

 colour of the feathers is pale rufous buff instead of white. The 

 chin and rest of the throat are pale rufous bun. 



Adult female. Has the upper surface similar to that of the male, 

 but diifers in having the underparts a dull orange-brick colour ; 

 most of the feathers of the breast ornamented with pale buff spots 

 at the extremities. The chin, throat, and sides of the face pale 

 rufous buff. Irides brown ; upper mandible dusky horn ; lower 

 mandible and legs coral-red. Total length 12'5 inches, wing 6*9, 

 tail 3*7, tarsus 1'9. 



Hah. East Africa : Pangani River to the Kikuyu Country and 

 Lake Nivasha. 



