212 PHASIANID^ FBANCOLINUS 



Length (female) 16 - 5 ; wing 7*75; tail 3'7o ; tarsus 2-25 ; culmen 

 I'l ; the male is a little larger, wing 8-0 ; tail 4-10. 



Distribution. This is the largest of the South African Fran- 

 colins ; it is found only within the Cape Colony, and chiefly in the 

 southern and south-western portions of it. 



The following are localities. Cape Colony Cape division 

 (Victorin), Stellenbosch, Worcester and Caledon (S. A. Mus.), 

 Ceres and Tulbagh (L. Peringuey), Uitenhage (Bryden), Karee 

 river in Sutherland (Burchell), Orange river (Bradshaw). 



, This Francolin is very abundant on Eobben Island in Table Bay, 

 where it was introduced many years ago. 



Habits. The Cape Pheasant is found chiefly in the maritime 

 districts ; it is especially abundant in bushy kloofs and along 

 .water courses, where there is a thick growth of rank vegetation and 

 low underwood. It is common in the immediate vicinity of Cape 

 Town. Like the Bed-billed Francolin it is flushed with great 

 difficulty, preferring to squat or to run when possible ; it resorts to 

 the lower branches of thick trees, and there remains concealed just 

 beyond the reach of dogs ; like other Francolins it feeds early and 

 late on tender shoots, especially of green fern, as well as on grain 

 and on insects. Its voice is a loud and drawn out chuckle, generally 

 heard when disturbed and flying off to shelter. 



The nest is placed on the ground, usually under a bush ; eight 

 to fourteen eggs are laid of a greenish-brown or brownish-cream 

 colour; they measure 1-95 to 1-8 x 1*5 to 1-4, according to Gates. 



656. Francolinus natalensis, Natal Francolin. 



Francolinus natalensis, Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 48 

 (1834) ; id. Illus. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 13 (1838) ; Gumey, Ibis, 

 1860, p. 214 [Natal] ; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 273 (1867) ; Gumey, 

 Ibis, 1868, p. 467 [Transvaal] ; Layard, Ibis, 1869, p. 375 ; Buckley, 

 Ibis, 1874, p. 387 ; Drummond, Large Game, p. 414 (1875) ; Barratt, 

 Ibis, 1876, p. 209 ; Ayres, Ibis, 1880, p. 110 ; Oates, Matabeleland, 

 p. 323 (1881) ; Sliarpe, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 592 (1884) ; Ayres, 

 Ibis, 1886, p. 292 ; SchaecJc, Mem. Soc. Zool. Fr. iv, p. 345 (1891) ; 

 Nicolls and Eglington, Sportsm. 8. Afr. p. 105, pi. xi, fig. 53 

 (1892) ; Bryden, Gun and Camera, p. 473 (1893) ; Grant, Ibis, 1892, 

 p. 49 ; id. Cat. B. M. xxii, p. 166 (1893) ; id. Game Birds i, p. 130 

 (1896) ; Shelleij, B. Afr. i, p. 181 (1896) ; Woodward Bros., Natal B. 

 p. 162 (1899) ; Alexander, Ibis, 1900, p. 446 ; Reichenow, Vog. Afr. 

 i. p. 475 (1901). 



