THE FRANCOLINS. 



"5 



character from all the following species. Total length, 12 "6 

 inches ; wing, 6'6 ; tail, 3*5 ; tarsus, 17. The male is provided 

 with a pair of long sharp spurs. 



Range. — Western South Africa, extending from the Orange 

 River to the Cunene River and inland to Lake Ngami. 



Habits. — The Close-barred Francolin is, according to Anders- 

 son, one of the commonest species in Damara and Great 

 Namaqua Land, where in favourable seasons the coveys often 

 contain ten to fourteen birds. It generally frequents the banks 

 of streams and perches much in trees, roosting among the 

 branches at night, and retiring there during the heat of the day 

 or on the approach of danger. This bird is always loath to fly 

 unless very hard pressed, when it dives at once into the nearest 

 thick tree and remains motionless; it generally prefers to 

 escape by running with extraordinary swiftness. Its cry is 

 extremely loud and harsh, and resembles "a succession of 

 hysterical laughs, at first slow, but increasing in rapidity and 

 strength, till they suddenly cease." 



Eggs. — Cream-coloured. Measurements, 1*7 by i*i inch. 



c. The following species have the inner tvebs of the primary 

 flight-feathers either mostly pale buff, or brown, largely 

 barred and mottled with chestnut or buff. 



XXVIII. THE GREY-STRIPED FRANCOLTN. FRANCOLINUS 

 GRISEOSTRIATU3. 



Francolinus griseostrialus, Ogilvie-Grant, Ibis, 1890, p. 349, 

 pi. x. ; id. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 160 (1893). 



Adult Male. — Feathers of the upper-parts mostly dark chestnut, 

 margined on either side by a black and pearl-grey band ; fore- 

 neck and chest very similarly marked ; rest of under-parts buff, 

 with wide dull rufous shaft-stripes ; quills and tail chestnut, 

 marked with black. A pair of sharp spurs. 



Eange — West Africa; River Coanza. 



