FRANCOLINS 



207 



of South Africa," or to C. G. Davies' lovely plates in Major 

 Horsbrugh's book on " South African Gamebirds." 



The Francolins — apart from their economic value as food 

 for man — are of great utility to the farmer on account of 

 their seed and insect eating propensities. 



Pig. 109. — Orange River Pranoolin chicks hatching out. 



They are fond of digging for small bulbs and roots, and 

 from this the idea of the Boers that they are detrimental to 

 potato crops probably originates ; they bear in consequence 

 no love for the Francolins, accusing them of stealing mealies, 

 potatoes, &c. More than one farmer has told us that he 

 destroys all nests discovered, and all the arguments in defence 



