GAME-BIRDS. 31 



also, are armed with one or more pairs of spurs. Of the species here 

 exhibited the Common Francolin (153), formerly met with in Southern 

 Europe, hut now extinct there, is the most familiar, and known to Indian 

 sportsmen as the Kala titur or Black Partridge. Another species, only 

 found in the Terai of North India, is the Swamp-Francolin or Kyah 

 (158). Levaillant^s Francolin (156), with its chestnut flight-feathers, 

 belongs to the group known as " Redwings,^* in South Africa ; while the 

 Double-spurred Francolin (160) from West Africa represents a somewhat 

 different section of the genus. Hildebrandt's Francolin (1 69) is specially 

 interesting, for the female not only differs entirely from the male in the 

 colour of the underparts, but has the legs armed with one or two pairs 

 of strong spurs, and was for some time regarded as representing a distinct 

 species. 



The Cape Francolin (161) and Erckel's Francolin (162) are among 

 the largest known species, the former being well-known in South Africa 

 as the "' Cape Pheasant.^' A closely allied African genus Pternistes 

 includes nine species of bare-throated Francolins, and an example of 

 these will be found in Gray's Bare-throated Francolin (P. leucoscepus) 

 (163). 



The Snow-Partridge (Lerwa) (164), the sole representative of its [Case 16.] 

 genus, is an Alpine form generally met with at elevations ranging from 

 10,000 to 15,000 feet above sea-level. As indicated by the shape of the 

 wing, the Snow-Partridge is a bird of rapid and powerful flight, but, 

 unlike the Quails, it does not appear to be migratory, merely shifting 

 its quarters to lower elevations when driven down by severe snowstorms. 

 The large Snow-Cocks [Tetraog alius) (165, 166), of which six species 

 are known, are also Alpine birds, very similar in their habits and mode 

 of life to the Snow-Partridges, but found at even greater elevations, the 

 Tibetan Snow-Cock here exhibited being met with up to 19,000 feet above 

 sea-level. 



The handsome Long-billed Francolin (Rhizothera) (167), of which [Case 16.] 

 only one other Bornean species is at present known, is distinguished 

 from its allies the Francolins by the long stout curved bill and by having 

 only twelve tail-feathers, all the latter possessing fourteen. As will be 

 seen, the male and female of this curious Malayan form differ con- 

 siderably in plumage. 



Family II. Tetraonid^. Grouse. 



The members of this family are distinguished from the Phasianidse 17 is^ 

 (Pheasants, Partridges and Quails) by several distinctive 

 characters. The nostrils are entirely hidden by feathers. The legs 

 are either partially feathered as in the Hazel-hens and Ruffed 



17, 18.] 



