4 Dr. R. B. Sharpe on Birds 



after the first moult, when different kinds of arrow-shaped 

 black marks and bars are much in evidence beneath. 



[The " Patrice'" was very common, the birds occurring both 

 on the veldt and ou the kopjes, in coveys and in pairs. They 

 feed morning and evening on a small bulb called " Inki 

 root " *, which they seem to hook out of the sandy soil 

 with their beaks. They thrive well in captivity, and a hen 

 at Deelfontein hatched three eggs out of five. The chicks, 

 moreover, throve well, but were killed by " dassies " (Hyrax 

 capensis). These Francolins do not fly far when put up. 

 Both male and female call, and like to get on a pointed rock 

 to do so. The young birds call when they are about three 

 weeks old. 



The nest is a slight hollow in the ground, with a little 

 grass as lining. It is generally placed on the side of a 

 kopje.] 



2. COTURNIX CAPENSIS. 



Coturnix coturnix, pt., Sharpe, cd. Layard, pp. 603, 854 

 (1884). 



Coturnix capensis Grant, Cat. B. xx. p. 237 (1893). 



Coturnix africana T. &S.; Sharpe, Hand-1. B. i. p. 31 

 (1899). 



Coturnix coturnix africana Reichenow, Vog. Afrikas, i. 

 p. 506 (1901). 



a. ? ad. Deelfontein, April 3, 1902. 



[The Quail was not a common bird with us, and we only 

 got one specimen about four miles out of Deelfontein in 

 April.] 



3. Pteroclurus namaqua. 



Pterocles namaqua Gm. ; Sharpe, ed. Layard, pp. 574, 854 

 (1884). 



Pteroclurus namaqua Grant, Cat. B. xxii. p. 10 (1893) ; 

 Reichenow, Vog. Afrikas, i. p. 318 (1901); Sharpe, Bull. 

 B. O. C. xii. p. 2 (1901). 



* "Inki" is a small bulb, so called by the Kaffir boys. It is very 

 sweet and has grass-like leaves. The majority of South-African animals 

 feed on it. 



