FBANCOLINS 



125 



in consequence no love for the Francolins, accusing them 

 of stealing mealies, potatoes, &c. More than one farmer 

 has told us that he destroys all nests discovered, and 

 all the arguments in defence of our little feathered friends 

 could not bring these self-opinionated old Dutchmen to 

 see the error of their ways. 



FIG. 93. Orange River Francolin chicks hatching out. 



Mr. Thomsen, the Chief Locust Officer of the Trans- 

 vaal, says they are invaluable in the destruction of 

 locusts, as they not only feed on voetgangers, but scratch 

 up and eat countless locust-eggs. 



In the Cape Colony the two best known species are the 



