360 Capt. G. E. Shelley on a Collection of 



tance, and, being only uttered during flighty betrays their 

 approach to the sportsman. They are very plentiful from 

 Crocodile river in the Transvaal to about Tati river, the 

 southern boundary of Matabele land ; but we did not meet 

 with them to the north of that river. They are excellent 

 eating, split open and grilled, with a little butter. 



175. Pterocles variegatus, Burch. 



(17) Limonie Pan, Bamangwato country, 2nd June. Iris 

 very dark nraber ; eyelids light gamboge ; bill black ; tarsi 

 and feet dusky yellow. 



At about 11 o'clock hundreds of these birds came to the 

 'Limonie Pan, in small flocks of from about half a dozen to 

 thirty. They did not remain more than a few minutes, but 

 hastened back to their feeding-ground ; and by midday all 

 had quenched their thirst, and not one remained at the Pan. 

 Along the Crocodile river we also found these birds, mostly 

 in pairs, which showed that their breeding-season had then 

 commenced. The crops of those we shot were crammed 

 with seeds, 



176. NuMiDA coRONATA, Finsch & Hartl. 

 Mashoona, December. Seen, but not procured. 



177. Francolinus swainsoni (Smith). * 



(23) Inshlangeen river, Matabele, 4th June. Iris brown ; 

 bill black, with the lower mandible and bare skin over the 

 nostrils, round the eyes, chin, and throat bright dark rose-red ; 

 tarsi and feet black, with a ruddy tinge. On the 4th of June 

 I found a nest with six eggs, slightly incubated. The nest 

 was in rough high grass near the river, in a slight cavity, and 

 was constructed of soft dry drass and a few breast-feathers of 

 the old birds. The eggs are of a pinkish-cream colour, finely 

 speckled all over with chalky white, and are roundish in shape, 



]i|inchbyliV 



We found this species also at the Quae Quae river and 

 in many other spots along our route. 



178. Francolinus pileatus, Smith. 



(22) Gokwe river, Bamangwato, 8th June. 



Iris brown ; bill ashy black ; tarsi and feet ruddy. 



