GAME BIRDS 17 



especially the thick bush by their margins, and may be 

 recognized by its red bill and legs and white breast with 

 V-shaped black markings. 



Its feeding and drinking habits are very similar to those 

 of the red-necked pheasant. It is a much shyer bird, 

 and is less frequently found near villages. When dis- 

 turbed it goes away with a strong and noisy flight, uttering 

 harsh cries of alarm, and generally takes refuge in the 

 branches of some leafy tree or bush at no great distance 

 from the ground. It is also a good runner. It is usually 

 seen in family parties, but the cocks sometimes go singly. 

 I have seen coveys of young birds in April, and found a 

 hen sitting on a clutch of six whitish eggs on 8th December 

 near the Sabi River ; but I also caught an unfledged one 

 on 3ist May, and noticed a newly hatched-out brood 

 on 24th August in the same district, so that the nesting 

 appears to occur very irregularly. The nest is hollowed 

 out of the ground and hidden in the usual manner. A 

 not uncommon ruse of single birds to escape detection 

 when perched in a tree is very quietly to creep round to 

 the other side of the trunk, thus interposing it as a 

 protection. By walking very slowly, so as to lead it 

 to believe itself unobserved, and at the same time gradually 

 working round, you will see it again slip round the tree; 

 and it will continue to do this so long as it imagines you 

 have not noticed it. It roosts in trees at night. 



This francolin ranges from Natal northwards. An 

 apparently kindred type exists in the Kikuyu forest 

 of British East Africa, at a height of 8000 feet. This 

 species was laying in early October there, and I found a 

 nest containing five fresh eggs. 



The Crested Francolin is a smaller bird than the last. 

 Its colour is rufous brown, merging into olive on the 

 back, the feathers having very conspicuous white shaft 



