120 Allen's naturalist's library. 



Range. — South Africa; Transvaal, Orange Free State, Natal, 

 Cape Colony. 



Habits. — This remarkably handsome species, generally called 

 the " Red-wing " in South Africa, is met with chiefly in the more 

 secluded valleys forming the beds of the streams which flow 

 between the high mountain ranges. Tufts of coarse grass and 

 rushes are its favourite cover, from which it is extremely diffi- 

 cult to flush it, and birds of this species lie so close that Mr. 

 Layard tells us he has on several occasions actually parted the 

 grass under the pointer's nose to allow them to rise ! If flushed 

 a second time and well marked down, they may often be 

 caught by the hand, as they will hardly rise again. In dry 

 weather they keep so close to the dense palmiet that it is im- 

 possible to get them out. In the eastern districts they aff"ect the 

 damper parts of the hillsides and do not frequent the morasses. 



Mr. T. Ayres says that their call is harsh and loud, and gener- 

 ally uttered morning and evening. Theflight is rapid and strong, 

 and they generally manage to settle out of sight behind some 

 hillock or bush, w^here they are not easily found a second time. 



Eggs. — Rather larger and redder in colour than those of F. 

 africanus, described above. 



XXIL THE GARIEP FRANCOLIN. FRANCOLINUS GARIEPENSIS. 



Francolinus gariepensis, Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. pis. 83 [male] 



and 84 [female] (1849) : Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 



xxii. p. 155 (1893). 



Adult Male and Female. — Like F.levaillanti in general colouring, 



but, among other differences, may be noted the position of the 



upper black and white stripes, which do not meet on the nape, 



but, passing along the sides of the neck, u?ute with the lower line 



which borders the throat ; the chest and under-parts are rich 



buff, heavily blotched on one or both w^ebs with dark chestnut. 



Bill strong. Total length, 13*5 inches; wing, 6'8 ; tail, 3'i ; 



tarsus, 1-6. The female is generally devoid of spurs, but some 



examples have a blunt knob on one or both legs. 



