Francolins. 159 



blunt point at the other. They are 

 fairly glossy and quite unspotted, varying 

 in colour from a slightly greenish to a 

 brownish buff. They vary immensely in 

 size, and measure from 1*36 to i-8 in 

 length and from i*i8 to 1*38 in breadth. 



The male has the crown reddish brown 

 streaked with black. The throat and the 

 sides of the head are deep black with a 

 patch of white over the ears and a small 

 white spot in front of the eye. There is 

 a broad chestnut collar round the neck. 

 The upper back is black with very 

 distinct white spots. The lower back, 

 rump and middle tail-feathers are black 

 with narrow regular white cross-bars. 

 The other tail-feathers are black with 

 white bars at their bases. The visible 

 portions of the closed wings are dark 

 brown, each feather very broadly edged 

 with rufous. The quills of the wing are 

 brown, very broadly and coarsely barred 

 on both webs with rufous. The breast 

 and the upper belly are deep black. The 

 lower belly and the sides of the body 

 are black with large white spots. The 

 thighs and the space between are chest- 

 nut barred with white, and the feathers 

 under the tail are a richer chestnut and 

 without bars. 



