268 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



covered by a hard rounded scale ; wings moderate and 

 rounded, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills longest ; 

 tail short, sometimes nearly concealed by the coverts ; tarsi 

 strong, as long as, or shorter than, the middle toe, armed 

 in the males with a spur, or tubercle, on each leg ; toes 

 more or less long, the fore toes united at their base by a 

 membrane, with the lateral ones nearly equal, the outer rather 

 the longest ; the hind toe short ; the claws moderate, and 

 slightly curved. 



521. Francolinus Olamator ; Perdix ciamator, 



Temm. ; Cuv., Vol. 3, p. 49 ; Pheasant of Colonists. 



Blackish-brown, each feather longitudinally marked with 

 narrow whitish lines, converging to the shaft ; top of head, 

 dark-brown ; chin and part of throat, white ; feathers of 

 neck brown, with white edges, giving this portion a mailed 

 appearance ; feathers of belly and flanks, dark-brown, sparsely 

 mottled with white, and with a broad white line down the 

 centre. Length, 14" to 16" ; wing, 8" ; tail, 4". 



The " pheasant '' is found througfliout the whole of the maritime 

 districts of the colony, delighting in bushy kloofs and water-courses, 

 from which it is driven trith difficulty, owing to its habit of perching 

 on branches, just out of the reach of dogs. It at all times prefers to 

 escape by running, instead of flying ; and on Eobben Island, where it 

 abounds, having been placed there some years ago, whole flocks may 

 be chased for a mile or more in full view without once taking wing. 

 They usually, on these occasions, make for the rocks on the beach, and 

 will run out to the farthest extremity, regardless of the surf breaking 

 over them. Like the other Francolins of the colony, they feed 

 during the morning and evenings on bulbs, grain, and insects ; form 

 their nests under a bush, and lay from eight to fourteen eggs, of a 

 greenish-brown colour : axis, 1" 10'" ; diameter, 1" 6'". They are 

 noisy clamorous birds, their harsh calls being heard to a great 

 distance. At Zoetendal's Vley they consort with the domestic fowls, 

 coming close up to the house to feed. 



I have kept them in confinement, and observe that they always seek 

 the highest lateral branch as a roost at night. A strange disease 

 affects them when in a cage— a kind of opthalmia— their eyes swell to 

 a great size, and they become perfectly blind, if the complaint does not 

 end in death. They have been introduced into New Zealand and 

 Australia, and will, I am convinced, soon become naturalized. 



522. Francolinus NudicoUis, Lath. ; Tetrao 



Nudicollis, Cuv., Vol. 3, p. 49 ; Perdix Capensis, 

 Lath ; Red-necked Pheasant of Colonists, 

 General colour, brown, the feathers of the back having 

 a black stripe down the centre ; those of chest cinereous, with 



