PTERNISTES NUDICOLLIS. 



SOUTHERN EED-NECKED FRANCOLIN. 



(Plate 28.) 



Tetrao nudicollis, Boddacrt, Tabl. PI. Enl., p. ii (1783). 



Pternistes nudicollis, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., p. 589 

 (1875-84) ; Nicolls & Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., p. lO-l 

 (1892) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxii, p. 174 (1893) ; 

 Woodward, Natal Birds, p. 163 (1899) ; Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, 

 I, p. 461 (1900-01) ; Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., ni, p. 354 (1905) ; 

 Sclater and Stark, Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 214 (1906). 



Local Names. " Pheasant " at Knysna ; in other parts of the country 

 generally known as the " Red-necked Pheasant " (Sclater). 



Description. The bird figured is an adult male. Length about 15 

 in. The female is smaller, measuruig about 13 in. and the feathers 

 on the nape and the sides of the neck are more strongly edged 

 with white. She also lacks spiurs. 



Distribution. The Southern Red-necked Francolin is a bird of very 

 local distribution, and is only found in the thickly-wooded districts 

 of Cape Colony along the south coast from Swellendam to Natal. 



This is another of the so-called bush-pheasants and a most 

 unsporting bird. Mr. Millar, in his book on Natal Birds, says 

 that in certain districts this Francolin takes the place of the 

 Natal Francolin {F. natalensis), and like the latter bird alights 

 in trees, and is called a pheasant. It is generally found on 

 the outskirts of the woody kloofs, where its loud cackling call 

 may be heard in the early morning and in the evening. When 

 put up by dogs it usually flies to the nearest tree and conceals 

 itself in the thickest part of it, from which position it is 

 extremely hard to dislodge. It may at times even be caught 

 by the legs by quietly climbing up the tree. 



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