FRANCOLINUS COQUI. 



SHWIMPI OR COQUI FEANCOLIN. 



(Plate 16.) 



Perdix coqui, Smith, Rep. Exped. Centr. Afr., p. 55 (1836). 



Francolinus subtorquahis, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., 

 p. 600 (1875-84) ; Nicolls & EgUngton, Sportsman in S. Afr., 

 p. 103 (1892). 



Francolinus coqui, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxn, p. 143 

 (1893) ; id., Game-Birds, i, p. Ill (1895) ; Woodward, Natal 

 Birds, p. 160 (1899) ; Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 492 (1900-01) ; 

 Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., iii, p. 354 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, 

 Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 197 (1906). 



Local Name. " Iswempe " of the Zulus. 



Description. The birds figured are an adult male and female. 

 Length about 11 in. 



Distribution. The Coqui Francolin is found all over Rhodesia, the 

 Transvaal, Bechuanaland and Natal. Its range extends as far 

 up the coast as Damaraland on the west and nearly to the Equator 

 on the east. 



I HAVE shot many of these small Francolins in the Transvaal 

 and consider them most sporting little birds. They are 

 hardly ever found far from bush, and like to haunt fringes 

 of mimosa along the flanks of the hills. I have occasionally 

 been able to get them driven to the gun, when they come 

 at a rare pace and require quick and accurate shooting as 

 they dodge through the tops of the trees. 



They have the curious habit of going to ground when 

 hard pressed. One day during the South African War I was 



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