TFTRA' 



ONID^E. 273 



529. Prancolinus Natalensis, Smith, s. A. 



J., Vol. 2, p. 48; III ZooL, PL 13; Francolinus 

 Lechoho, Smith. 



TOP of head, back, scapulars, shoulders, and tail, light- 

 brown, finely mottled with brownish-black and tawny white, 

 the former in the shape of longitudinal blotches upon the 

 scapulars; eyebrows, sides of head, neck, breast, and ante- 

 rior part of belly, variegated black and white; posterior 

 part of belly, vent, and under tail-coverts, a mixture of 

 black, tawny white, and light-brown ; bill reddish-brown , 

 legs, toes, and claws, reddish-yellow ; eyes brown. Length; 

 12|" ; wing, 7" ; tail, 3". 



Inhabits brushwood thickets in the vicinity of JN"atal. Dr. A. 

 Smith loc. cit., and Mr. Ayres, Ibis., Vol., 1860, p. 215. This 

 species appears to represent F. Clamator at Natal, and bears a 

 considerable resemblance to it. Its food, according to Mr. Ayres, 

 consists of insects and seeds ; and, like its congener, it runs with great 

 rapidity, and takes refuge in trees when roosting or disturbed. 



530. Prancolinus Subtorquatus, Smith, Zooi. 



S. A, PI 15, 9; Perdix Coqui, Smith, Report S. 

 Af. Expedition. 



UPPER part of head, deep rufous-brown, dashed with a 

 tinge of purple ; eyebrow, ear-coverts, back, and sides of 

 the neck, pale ochry-red ; sides of head crossed by two fine 

 black lines> one above and one below the eye, the former 

 terminates on the side of the neck, behind the ear-coverts, 

 the latter, which springs from the base of the bill, descends 

 towards the throat, and with the corresponding one of the 

 opposite side, forms a narrow lunated collar across the 

 throat ; chest and narrow nuchal collar, vinaceous, with 

 white shafts to the feathers ; belly, flanks, and vent, creamy- 

 white, barred with broadish-black or dark-brown markings ; 

 back rusty-grey, with rufous and dark-brown transverse 

 markings, and white centre to the feathers, resembling in 

 the distribution of the colours F. Afra. Length, 10" ; wing, 

 5" 3'" ; tail, 2" 6"', 



Found by Dr. Smith's expedition near the Tropic of Capricorn, 

 upon the slopes of stony hills covered with brushwood. Mr. 

 Arnot has forwarded specimens obtained in the Free State, ; and Mr. 

 Ay res has procured it at Natal 



Dr. Smith's description is taken from an old female. The male 

 differs considerably : its colours are much brighter and darker on the 

 back ; the throat and chin are bright rufous ; there are no signs of 



