216 Mr. R. Kemp on the Birds of 



3. Francolinus thorxii. 



Francolinus thornei Grant, Bull. B. O. C. xiii. p. 22 (1902). 



Bo : June, August, September, October 1903. Irides dark 

 hazel ; bill yellow, with black culmen ; feet yellowish olive- 

 green ; claws brownish ; eyelids dull yellow. 



An immature chick was procured at Bo in January 1904. 



This Francolin is common and resident throughout the 

 year. It frequently perches on trees and bushes when 

 flushed from the railway-line. The eggs are often found by 

 the natives while gathering the rice in December and January, 

 and are always two in number. The natives say that there 

 is one nesting-period only, though the state of immaturity of 

 many specimens shot by our men scarcely corroborates this. 

 A hen shot on the 30th of September proved on examination 

 to contain a well-developed egg. Some of our white staff 

 allege that there are three seasons of breeding in the course 

 of the year, judging by the birds which they have shot. 



4. VlNAGO SHARPII. 



Vinago sharpei Reichenow, Orn. MB. x. p. 45 (1902). 



A series of skins from Rotifunk and Bo. Bill pale horn- 

 coloured ; bare face scarlet ; irides blue ; feet yellow. 



This bird never flies to the ground, and it is stated by the 

 natives here that it will break off a twig purposely to walk 

 down it to the ground if no branch be available. Its 

 principal food consists of a berry which grows in great 

 quantities and goes by the name of " Christmas- seed." 

 Captive Pigeons of this species, which I have kept, have 

 invariably died in a few days. 



5. TURTU1UEXA IRIDITORQUES. 



Turturoena iriditorques (Cass.) ; Salvad. Cat. B. xxi. p. 327 

 (x893) ; Sharpe, Hand-1. B. i. p. 73 (1899) ; Reichen. Vog. 

 Afrikas, i. p. 419 (1901). 



Moyamba, 1902. 



Quite a scarce and little-known species with us. 



6. Streptopelia semitorquata. 



Streptopelia semitorquata (Riipp.) ; Sharpe, Hand-1. B. i. 

 p. 78 (1899). 



