"4 PHASIANIDAE 227 
colonists, both sexes have the crown brown, edged with black 
and white, which continues down the nape and widens at its 
base; a black and white band outlines the throat and forms a 
patch below it, while the rest of the head is rufous. The upper 
parts are black, brown, and buff, with pale chestnut remiges; the 
under parts are of the last colour, varied with buff and black, and 
barred with brown on the flanks. Spurs are occasionally wanting. 
fF. adspersus of western South Africa is very distinct, both male 
and female being brown above, with fine black and grey mottlings 
and black lores; the head, neck, and lower surface are white, with 
narrow black bars. The spurs are long and sharp. F! albigularis 
of West Africa is grey-brown, with rusty crown, white throat, buff 
under parts, and bright bay patches on the wing-coverts, the 
upper back and neck exhibiting white streaks edged with black. 
The lower back is blotched with black, the spurs are moderate. 
Of some five Asiatic species, # simensis—aintroduced into 
Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion—alone reaches eastward of 
Assam to China; whereas / pondicerianus has been imported 
into Rodriguez and the Amirante Islands. 
Francolins are found in family parties rather than coveys, 
and prefer localities near water, though these may consist of 
rushy swamps, cultivated lands, stony slopes, or maritime plains. 
Dry situations are, however, favoured, a sufficiency of cover being 
the chief requisite, and an altitude of six thousand feet being 
occasionally attained. Some forms roost upon the ground and 
apparently never perch, others—especially in South Africa 
resort habitually to trees at night or when disturbed; but prob- 
ably the style of country and the amount of persecution account 
for this difference, while the decrease of the commoner species in 
certain parts emphasises the fact that they are an easy prey to 
gunners and other foes. These birds run with great rapidity, 
and are extremely difficult to flush, still more so for a second 
time ; when forced to rise they do so with a whirring noise, and fly 
off heavily but swiftly, to pitch again as soon as possible. Repos- 
ing in the shade during the hot hours, they feed in the morning 
and evening, at which times the loud, shrill ery of three bell-lke 
notes, or the “hysterical laugh,” may be heard in all directions. 
The diet consists of insects, shoots of plants, berries,seeds, and bulbs, 
the powerful bill being used for digging. The well-concealed nest 
resembles that of a Partridge, the six to fourteen eggs, found in 
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