PHASIANID^} PTERNISTES 215 



Xicolla and Eglington, Sportsm. S. Aft', p. 104 (1882) ; Grant, Ibis, 

 1892, p. 53; id. Cat. B. M. xxii, p. 174 (1893); id. Game Bds. i, 

 p. 136 (1896) ; Slielley, B. Afr. i, p. 179 (1896) ; Woodward Bros., 

 Natal B. p. 163 (1899) ; Eeiclienow. Vog. Afr. i, p. 461 (1901) ; Oates, 

 Cat. B. Eggs, i, p. 40 (1901). 



" Pheasant " at Knysna, in other parts of the country generally known 

 as the " Red-necked Pheasant." 



Description. Adult Male. General colour above, brown, on 

 the nape with white edgings to some of the feathers, those of the 

 mantle, wings and rest of the upper surface with strongly marked 

 dark brown centres ; wing- quills brown ; sides of the face including 

 a line over the eye and forehead black ; upper breast ashy with 

 black centres to the feathers; lower breast and flanks black and 

 white ; the black along the shaft and edges, the white in two narrow 

 bands on both sides of the shaft ; abdomen and under tail-coverts 

 brown, with darker shaft-marks like the back. 



Iris brown, bare skin round the eye and on the throat bright 

 crimson ; bill and legs orange-red, a pair of sharp, strong tarsal 

 spurs. Length 15 ; wing 8-25 ; tail 3*45 ; culmen 1-3 ; tarsus 2-45. 



In the female the feathers on the nape and sides of the neck are 

 more strongly edged with white ; the bird is smaller and has no 

 spurs. Length 13 ; wing 7 '5. 



In a young male in the South African Museum, the feathers of 

 the lower breast and flanks are broadly edged with rich dark 

 chestnut. 



Distribution. This bird is found only along the south coast of 

 the Colony in the more thickly wooded districts from Swellendam 

 to Natal. It has been recorded from Lydenburg, in the Transvaal, 

 but probably in error. 



The following are recorded localities : Cape Colony Swellendam 

 and George (Layard), Knysna (Victorin), Willowmore (Bryden), 

 Albany (S. A. Mus.), Port Elizabeth (Bickard), East London 

 (Wood), King William's Town (Trevelyan and Pym) ; Natal Up- 

 country districts (Woodward), Dargle, June (Millar) ; Transvaal 

 Lydenburg (Barratt). 



Habits. Little of any special interest is recorded about the habits 

 of this bird ; it is found only in forest or thick bush, and is seldom 

 far from water ; it has a loud, cackling note, heard at early morn 

 and in the evening ; when flushed it usually takes refuge in a tree 

 and conceals itself effectually. It is generally met with in coveys 

 of from six to twelve birds, these being a family party which only 

 breaks up at the commencement of the following breeding season. 



