20 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



The cock birds are often seen sitting in the middle of 

 a thick thorn bush, and their grating calls are continually 

 heard in the mornings and evenings. 



Shelley's Francolin is about the best sporting bird of 

 the genus in the Transvaal low country. It favours 

 lightly timbered and open country, and I have never 

 seen it in the thick bush. It is a handsome bird, with 

 white throat surrounded by a black line, a mottled 

 black and white breast, and yellow legs. It sits very 

 close, and is generally found in small coveys. It roosts 

 on the ground, and is a great insect eater. 



The well-known Cape Redwing and Cape Partridge 

 are confined to the high country of south Africa, and both 

 "afford good sport. 



The Coqui is the smallest of the genus. The crown of 

 the head is reddish and the sides of the face yellow, 

 which, with its size and its bright yellow legs, render it 

 easy to recognize. It is widely distributed and is found 

 in most of Africa south of the Equator. It is usually 

 met with in small coveys, in open bush country near 

 water. It is a ground rooster, and sits very close. 

 When flushed it flies well and strongly. This was one of 

 the very few species of francolin which I noticed between 

 Ibo and Lake Nyasa. 



As the coqui is the smallest, so Jackson's francolin 

 is much the largest of the genus. It is, in fact, nearly 

 as big as an English pheasant. I met with it in some 

 low scrub near the foot of the Laikipia plateau in British 

 East Africa. It is named after Mr. F. J. Jackson, C.B., 

 C.M.G., the Lieutenant-Governor of that colony (now 

 Governor of Uganda), who discovered it. 



All the above pheasants and francolins benefit the 

 farmer in that they prey largely upon the eggs and young 

 of locusts, as well as eating other insects. 



