FEANGOLIN. 143 



them better than by transcribing a letter written by M. Benoit about 

 1840 in bis clever ornithological work upon Sicily — a work which 

 has unfortunately become very rare. ^The Francolin,' he says, ^lives 

 in the humid parts of plains, or in the proximity to rivers, and 

 among reeds. They only occur in couples in breeding time. Except 

 at that epoch they are separated far from each other, living singly.' 

 Though divers authors assert that they perch on trees, Benoit denies 

 it, and says he has always seen them on the ground, and even 

 when persecuted they do not perch on trees — a fact affirmed to me 

 by all the hunters of these countries. It has an extensive flight, but 

 being a heavy body, it follows that it may easily be taken by 

 perseverance. Nevertheless it is naturally wild, and difficult to 

 domesticate. The note which the male bird utters in the breedinsr 

 season, either at break of day or in the evening, resembles 'tre, 

 tre-tre-tre,' with a tone sufficiently changing. From this song the 

 poor people say it puts its own price on its head of three Sicilian 

 4ari.' 



"The Francolin makes its nest under birches and other bushes, 

 scooping out the ground a little, and filling it with dry leaves, hay, 

 and straw. The female lays from ten to fourteen eggs, about the 

 size of the Common Partridge, of a white colour, with obscure spots.* 

 The young at the end of October have already acquired the beautiful 

 plumage of the old bird; the breast is less sprinkled with white spots. 



''It is needless to add that this bird does not even exist in Sardinia." 

 —Benoit, 'Orn. Sic.,' p. 118. 



The Francolin lives, like other Partridges, in coveys, and remains 

 constant to the locality where it is bred. It loves humid woods and 

 marshy grounds, and, according to Savi and other writers, it perches 

 on trees during the night. M. Malherbe, however, denies that the 

 Francolin perches. He says it lives solitarily in Sicily, in moist 

 plains near a brook, or in the middle of a bed »f rushes; that it 

 keeps much on the ground, but will fly a good distance when 

 hunted, and its capture requires skill and perseverance. The natural 

 timidity of the bird makes it difficult to tame in confinement. 



In India the Francolin or Black Partridge is very common. Colonel 

 Irby ("Ibis," vol. iii., p. '^oQ,') says: — "This handsome Partridge is 

 found in great numbers in all grass jungles near water, and is par- 

 ticulaidy numerous on the banks of the Gogra, Choka, and other large 

 rivers. Good sport is to be had with them in November, in the liulde 

 or turmeric fields. This Partridge was common in Kumaon in April, 

 May, and June. Its call was to be heard wherever there was any 



* But see next page. 



