PHASIANID^ PTEKNISTES 219 



Length about 13-0 ; wing 7'25 ; tail 3-20 ; culmen 1-20 ; 

 tarsus 2-25. 



The female resembles the male, but is without the chestnut 

 edgings to the feathers of the lower breast and flanks, and has no 

 spurs on the tarsi ; wing 6-9 ; tarsus 1*9. 



Distribution. Swainson's Francolin was first discovered by 

 Smith along the rivers south of Kurichane, that is on the northern 

 slopes of the Magaliesberg. It does not appear to extend its range 

 much south of this point but to the northwards is common enough 

 throughout the country up to the Zambesi. 



The following are the chief recorded localities : Cape Colony 

 Maritzani Kiver, near Mafeking (Bryden) ; Transvaal Eustenburg 

 and Waterberg (Ayres), Zoutspansberg and Sabi Eiver in Ly den- 

 burg (S. A. Museum) ; Bechuanaland Tati, Jan. (S. A. Mus.) ; 

 Khodesia Inslungeen (i.e., Shangani) and Quaequae (i.e., Kwekwe), 

 Rivers (Ayres), Lundi Nuanetzi and Shagari Rivers (Marshall), 

 Zumbo (Alexander), Sinde River near Victoria Falls (S. A. Mus.) ; 

 German South-west Africa Omuveroom to Okavango (Andersson), 

 Omaruru (Eriksson in S. A. Mus.), Matschawa, west of Ngami 

 (Fleck). 



Habits. This bird very closely resembles the other Bush- 

 Francolins in its habits ; it is never found far from water and bush, 

 it roosts in trees, and when feeding in the open and disturbed 

 escapes by running, if possible, towards the shelter of brushwood. 

 Its cry is frequent and harsh and is heard early in the morning and 

 in the evening, at which time it also regularly descends to the 

 watering-places to drink ; its food consists of bulbs, seeds, berries 

 and insects, while Alexander states that on the Upper Zambesi it 

 does a good deal of damage among the Marpela grain fields of the 

 natives. Ayres found a nest on June 4, on the Shangani River ; 

 it was placed in rough, high grass near the river in a slight cavity 

 and was constructed of soft dry grass and feathers ; the eggs, six 

 in number and slightly incubated were a pinkish cream colour, 

 finely speckled with chalky white, and measured about 1*6 x 1*4. 



Alexander also found a nest on December 23 ; - in this case, 

 leaves were used to line the nest and the eggs were five in number, 

 pale dirty green in colour and measured 1-5 x T2. 



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