NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



coveys of from 6 to lo individuals. These coveys only break 

 up at the commencement of the breeding season. It is seldom 

 found away from forest or thick bush. When flushed it usually 

 takes refuge in a thick tree, where it can conceal itself very 

 effectually. It emits a loud cackling note, which is heard 

 chiefly at sunrise and sunset. The nest is usually placed in the 

 long grass at the foot of some tree or bush. The eggs vary 

 from 6 to 10 in number, and are a reddish-buff finely spotted 

 with dark reddish-brown. They measure about 1.55 by 1.15. 

 The breeding season seems to extend between September and 

 December. 



One of these birds kept in captivity at the Port Elizabeth 

 Museum laid 26 eggs, at the rate of i egg every second day. 



Cape Redwing Partridge {FrancoUmu levaUlanti). 

 (Vol. II., p. 253.) 



Description. — Male : crown of the head dusky-brown, 

 bounded on each side by a stripe of black and white feathers, 

 which extend down on both sides and join in the middle of 

 the nape and run on to the mantle, separating the rufous patches. 

 Space in front of eye and above it, ear coverts, and considerable 

 patch on either side of neck rusty-brown ; below this is a narrow 

 line of black and white feathers running from the lores, below 

 the eye, through the ear coverts, and down the neck to the 

 upper breast, there forming a patch of white feathers edged 

 and tipped with black. Centre portion of chin and throat 

 white ; portion surrounding it pale rusty. Upper surface, 

 general colour brown and black, with transverse bars of pale 

 rufous and longitudinal shaft stripes of lighter colour. 

 Primaries, their coverts, and secondaries, chestnut, mottled 

 with brown at the tips. Under surface pale buff, the feathers 

 of the breast being edged with chestnut. The feathers on the 

 flanks and under tail coverts are barred with dark brown. Iris 

 hazel. Bill dusky-yellow at base. Legs dull yellow. Spurs 

 small. 



Length, 13.00; tail, 6.55; wing, 3.00. 



176 ^ 



