270 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



this, and in their habit of effecting their escape by fleetness of foot, 

 rather than by taking wing, they resemble the colonial Clamator and 

 Nudicollis, to which they are closely allied. Mr. Andersson procured 

 it in Damaraland. 



525. Francolinus Afer, Tem. ; Shaw, Vol. n,p. 



323 ; F. Afra, Lath. ; Perdix Capensis, Lath., apnd. 

 J. "W. Grill, Victorin's list ; Grey wing-Partridge of 

 Colonists. 



GENERAL colour, light cinereous, approaches to ashy on the 

 breast and belly, variegated on the back with very dark 

 blotches, rufous transverse bars, and a light streak down the 

 shaft of each feather ; breast and flanks much blotched with 

 deep rufous'; belly and vent much mottled with transverse, 

 narrow bars of blackish-brown, assuming an arrow-headed 

 form on the shafts of many of the feathers ; chin, throat, and 

 stripe extending from the back of the eye almost to the 

 shoulder, white, mottled with black, disposed more or less in 

 the shape of a circle ; a broad rufous band, more or less 

 mottled with black, extends from the forehead over the head 

 down the neck ; a similar band less in breadth, and scarcely 

 mottled, extends from the bill under the eye, and joins the 

 rufous marking of the chest; tail dark-brown, barred with 

 rufous. Length, 12"; wing, 6"; tail, 3". 



Inhabits the maritime districts in considerable number, feeding on 

 bulbs and insects, which it digs up from the ground with its powerful 

 hooked bill. About Beaufort, it is only found on the mountain tops. 

 It nests among bushes, forming a loose structure of grass and roots, ia 

 a depression in the soil. Its eggs, six to eight in number, vary in 

 colour from a greenish-brown to a dark-brown, or a light-greenish, 

 almost white. All are, however, minutely spotted with brown pin- 

 points : axis, I" &" ; diameter, 1" 2'". 



It feeds during the early morning and evening during hot weather, 

 sheltering itself from the rays of the sun during the hotter portions of 

 the day under thick bushes, from which it rises readily on being 

 pursued. It can, however, run with great swiftness, and a winged bird, 

 unless followed by a good dog, is sure to escape. 



This species, and F. Clamator, live tolerably well in confinement, and 

 may be acclimatised, I think, in Mauritius, St. Helena, Australia, JSTew 

 Zealand, and elsewhere. F. Afer might perhaps be introduced into 

 England ; but it is a dry, tasteless bird compared with the European 

 partridge. 



526. Francolinus Levaillantii, Tem. ; PJ.COL, 



PL 477 ; Smith, Z. S. A., PI. 85 ; Perdix Levaillantii, 

 Cuv., Vol. 3, p. 49 ; Red^-wing-Partridge of Colonists. 



MUCH resembling the preceding species, but easily distin- 

 guishable from it by its larger size, darker and brighter 



