212 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



The FR-VNCOLINS {Fnmcol'nius) are distinguishable by their moderately long, powerful, and 

 slightly-hooked beak, and by the two spurs upon their foot. The tail, composed of fourteen feathers, 

 is either quite straight or gently rounded at its extremity; the third or fourth wing-quill exceeds 

 the rest in length. The thick plumage is often much variegated. The male and female are usually 

 alike in size, colour, and markings. These birds inhabit the southern portions of Asia, and are very 

 numerously met with on the continent of Africa. Some species frequent level plains, while others 

 live in forests ; when disturbed they conceal themselves in the brushwood in the thickest part of the 

 jungle, not venturing forth again till all danger has disappeared. Should no hiding-place be near, 

 they endeavour to escape by running, and have only recourse to their wings when the danger is very 

 urgent. In their general habits they yery much resemble the triie Partridges ; they breed at the same 

 season, testify the same care and devotion for their young, anc| are equally prolific. They differ, 

 however, from Partridges, inasmuch as they do not frequent cultivated grounds, but prefer the 

 neighbourhood of woods, where they seem to select damp localities overgrown with reeds. They live 

 upon berries quite as much as upon grain, and seek eagerly for such worms and insects as abound 

 in marshy soil. The African species feed on small bulbous roots which they dig from the ground 

 with their beaks. They are very fond of perching upon trees, especially during the night, and their 

 call is much more harsh and noisy than that of the Partridge. Their flesh is excellent. (See 

 XXIX. — Coloured Plate — Sanguine Francolin, Jihaginis (rucntus) 



THE BLACK PARTRIDGE. 



The Black Partridge {Francolimis vulgaris) is of a deep black on the brow, cheeks, and breast ; 

 the feathers on the back of the head are edged with red, and streaked with white ; the ear-feathers are 

 pure white ; those on the centre of the thj-oat are reddish brown, and form a broad collar ; the mantle- 

 feathers are black, bordered with red, and spotted with white, those of the lower back finely striped 

 black, and more or less spotted and lined with white. The thighs and lower tail-covers have the 

 feathers tipped with brown ; the quills are black and red, those at the e:fterior black and grey at their 

 roots. The eye is brown, the beak black, and the foot yellowish red. This species is from thirteen 

 to fourteen inches long, and twenty broad. The wing measures five inches and three-quarters, and 

 the tail three inches and a half. 



Jerdon informs us " that the Black Partridge is found throughout the whole of Northern India, 

 from the Himalayas to the valley of the Ganges, and southwards to Sindh and Guzerat, eastwards 

 through Dacca to Assam, Sylhet, and Tipperah, ^nd on mountains 4,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea." It frequents by preference grass meadows near water, cultivated fields of corn, mustard, or 

 pulse, and any patch of moderately high green herbage, also low jungle, and is not unfrequently 

 flushed in moderately long grass interspersed with bushes, even at some distance from water. 



" In the cold weather," says Jerdon, " after the young have flown and separated from their 

 parents, they may be found scattered over a greater expanse of country than during the hot weather 

 and rains, and are often to be found in fields far from water. This Partridge is stated occasionally 

 to perch and roost on trees ; but this is certainly a rare habit, at least with this species." 



During pairing-time the call of the cock bird may be frequently heard at sunrise, and towards 

 evening. Malesherbes represents it as an agreeable sound, resembling the syllables " Tre-tre-tre." 



A Sicilian proverb says that the bird wishes to declare his own value, and that he may be 

 purchased for three coins. This cry has been represented by many different syllables that, however, 

 would scarcely give a correct idea of its sound to those who have not heard it. The Mussulmans say 

 that it repeats the pious words, " Dobhan teri kudrut," others that it calls out, " Lussun, piaz, udruk," 

 or garlic, onions, ginger. Adams represents the cry as " Lohee-wha-which-a-whick," and some one 



