600 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
one originating at the outer feathers of the eye; the other at the 
base of the lower jaw, and separated from each other by a rusty 
orange stripe, mottled with umber-brown ; the superior of these 
arches terminates at the base of the neck, the other joins its fellow 
on the opposite side, and forms a dark semicircle in front of the 
neck; chin and upper portion of throat, white; lower portion, 
breast, belly, and vent, reddish-orange, blotched on the throat, 
breast, and flanks with deep rusty, and on the belly with very 
dark brown; upper surface of back, ashy-brown, mottled with 
rusty, transversely barred with brown, and longitudinally streaked 
down the shafts of the feathers with brownish white. Length, 
14"; wing, 6” 3”; tail, 3° 9”. “Tris, hazel; bill, dusky brown, 
with the basal half of lower mandible, and portion of base 
of the upper one, dingy yellow; tarsi and feet, dingy yellow” 
(Ayres). 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pls. 83, 84. 
577. FRanconinus susrorquatus, Smith. Coqui Francolin. 
This species belongs to a section of the genus F'rancolinus where 
there is little more than a trace of any rufous on either the crop or 
the flanks, but the breast has very straight and even bars, the hind 
neck being pale rufous. 
This Francolin was discovered by Sir Andrew Smith’s expedition, 
and we have received specimens from the Free State. Mr. Ayres 
writes :—“ These birds live in the open country, and are generally 
dispersed all over the colony of Natal; they are to be found in 
coyeys, like the Partridge in England ; they roost on the ground in 
any convenient thick tuft of grass, and nestle all together. These 
birds would be very numerous were it not for the burning of the 
grass, together with the hawks, wild cats, and snakes which abound 
here, and are their mortal enemies.” Mr. T. E. Buckley procured 
the bird in Bamangwato, and says that, ‘it is found in Natal and 
the Transvaal, and is fairly common up to the Matabele country, 
but from the extreme difficulty in flushing them not often seen. 
When once up they go off as quickly as a partridge in September.” 
Mr. Ayres writes:—“This is the commonest of the Francolins 
amongst the mountains of the Rustenburg district, and_is generally 
to be found in coveys in the more open valleys, where the ground 
is dotted with scrub and trees ; it is seldom far from water. They 
