FRANCOLINUS SHELLEYI. 



SHELLEY'S FRANCOLIN. 



(Plate 23.) 



Francolinus shelkyi, Ogilvie-Grant, Ibis, 1890, p. 348 ; NicoUs and 

 Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., p. 105 (1892) ; Ogilvie-Grant, 

 Cat. Bii-ds Brit. Mus., xxn, p. 157, PI. vi (1893) ; Reichenow, 

 Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 490 (1900-01) ; Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., 

 m, p. 354 (1905) ; Sclater and Stark, Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 208 

 (1906). 



Francolinus gariepensis, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., p. 599, 

 (part) (1875-84). 



Local Names. " Thorn Redwing " of Natal Colonists ; " Isendele " 

 of the Zulus (Millar). 



Description. The bird figured is an adult male. The sexes are 

 alike, but the female lacks spurs. Length about 13 m. 



Distribution. This bird is the eastern representative of the 

 Orange River Francolin {F . gariepensis), and in several places 

 the two species overlap. 



Its range extends from British East Africa southwards through 

 German East Africa and the region of the Zambesi. It is also 

 found in Nyasaland and Natal, and from Natal to Mashonaland. 



I HAVE not met with this species in South Africa but have 

 frequently killed it in British East Africa. On the Guasin Gishu 

 Plateau, at an elevation of 6,000 to 7,000 ft., it is very common 

 and its clear ringing call is one of the first sounds of early dawn. 

 It is found there on grassy plateaus studded with acacia thorns, 

 and is always a welcome addition to the larder. I once saw 

 one being fairly flown by a Pallid Harrier, and when I inter- 

 fered it was much exhausted and would doubtless have been 

 taken very shortly. The hawk pursued it like a Goshawk or 



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