16 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



traps baited with grain, and I have had several young 

 birds running with my fowls at different times. When 

 fully grown they quite naturally prefer the society of 

 their own kind, and forsake the safety of domesticity 

 for the freedom of the bush. . 



The other, or southern, form of red-necked pheasant 

 exists in the wooded districts of Cape Colony and Natal, 

 and extends as far north as the eastern Transvaal, where 

 individuals are sometimes, though very rarely, found 

 on the borders of the low country among the foot-hills 

 of the Drakensberg. This (lat. 25 S.) forms about the 

 extreme north limit of their range, and they are very 

 uncommon there. They are easily distinguished from 

 the kindred type by their red legs. 



The White-Ringed Pheasant has the bright red bare 

 skin on the throat surrounded by a pure white band ; 

 the ear covers are white, and the bill and legs bright red. 

 It ranges as far south as the Inhambane district of 

 Portuguese East Africa, where it is quite numerous, 

 and near the coast appears to take the place of the red- 

 necked type. It inhabits very dense bush, and has the 

 tree-perching and roosting habits of the other species. 

 It extends northwards into British East Africa. 



THE FRANCOLINS. This genus contains over forty 

 species in Africa. They differ greatly in size, ranging 

 from the little coqui, to the big Jackson's francolin of 

 east Africa. Unlike the pheasants, they are feathered 

 on the neck ; the males are usually provided with spurs. 

 They are, as a rule, more ready to take to the wing 

 than the pheasants ,and so find greater favour with 

 sportsmen. 



The Natal Francolin is a very common bird in the 

 Sabi and Olifants areas of the Transvaal. It is found 

 in wooded country, near rivers and spruits ; favouring 



