PEANCOLINS. 



419 



Pacific slopes of the Rocky Mountains. On the high grounds 

 which form the margin of the valley of the Sacramento River 

 they are extremely numerous. 



Another variety of Colin, figured by Audubon, is also a resident 

 of California, where it is called the Solitary Partridge. 



Francolins are distinguished from Partridges by a stronger and 

 more elongated bill, by a more largely developed tail, and by 

 the existence, in the male, of one or two sharp spurs. They also 

 differ in their habits, for they frequent wooded and marshy dis 

 tricts, where they subsist on berries, seeds, worms, insects, and 

 young bulbous plants. When not feeding, they are almost con- 

 stantly perched on trees, where they pass the night. These 



^-"'^■-*- 'I 'J 



Fig. 169. — Turnix taehy.Jroma. 



peculiarities excepted, they bear a strong resemblance to the 

 Partridge. Their flesh is highly esteemed, the Francolin taking 

 the first place among our game birds. 



A beautiful variety of Francolin is found in the South of China. 

 Its favourite haunt is among the dwarf palmetto on the hill-sides. 

 It lies well to dogs, but is so quick in flushing, and so rapid in 

 flight, that even the best shots miss them. They are quite as 

 large as the Grey Partridge. 



Unfortunately, in Europe the Francolin is tending towards 



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