196 



PHASIANIDA: 



FRANCOLINUS 



Sexes sometimes alike, sometimes differing considerably ; 

 plumage chiefly mottled and streaked with shades of brown and 

 yellow. 



This is a large genus, containing some forty-five species, chiefly 

 found in Africa but extending into southern Asia from Cyprus to 

 southern China. Out of forty-two African species, recognised by 

 Shelley, ten occur within our limits. 



FIG. 63. Left foot of Francolinus capensis, 



Key of the Species. 



A. Back and scapulars with whitish or buff shaft- 

 marks. 



a. Lower breast and belly pale, uniformly barred 



with black F. coqui, p. 197. 



b. Lower breast and belly not uniformly barred 



with black. 

 a 1 . Bump and upper tail-coverts without whitish 



shaft marks ; below buffy-white, faintly 



mottled with black F. sephcena, p. 199. 



6 1 . Bump and upper tail-coverts with whitish 



shaft marks like the rest of the upper 



surface. 



