_ 
592 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
from which it is driven with 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 Robben 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 ; they form their nests under a bush, and lay from eight to 
fourteen eggs, of a greenish-brown colour, occasionally spotted. 
Axis, 1” 10’; diameter, 1” 6”. They are noisy clamorous birds, 
their harsh call being heard to a great distance. At Zoetendal’s 
Vley they consort with the domestic fowls, coming close up to the 
house to feed. 
We 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 ophthalmia—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, we are convinced, soon become 
naturalized. 
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”. 
570. FRANCOLINUS NATALENSIS, Smith. Natal Francolin. 
This species has the same general characters as F’. clamator, but is 
smaller, and has no white shaft stripes on the breast. 
Sir Andrew Smith discovered this species in Natal, and Mr. Ayres 
writes from the same colony:—‘‘The birds live entirely in the 
dense underwood that abounds along the coast. Their food consists 
of insects and seeds; their call very much resembles that of the 
Guinea-fowl; they run exceedingly fast, and are shy and difficult to 
obtain; they roost in trees at night, and, when on the ground, will 
