PHASIANIDAE 



227 



colonists, both sexes have the crown brown, edged with black 

 and white, which continues down the nape and widens at its 

 base ; a black and white band outlines the throat and forms a 

 patch below it, while the rest of th.e head is rufous. The upper 

 parts are black, brown, and buff, with pale chestnut remiges ; the 

 under parts are of the last colour, varied with buff and black, and 

 barred with brown on the flanks. Spurs are occasionally wanting. 

 F. aJspersiis of western South Africa is very distinct, both male 

 and female being brown above, with line black and grey mottlings 

 and black lores ; the head, neck, and lower 'surface are white, with 

 narrow black bars. The spurs are long and sharp. F. alhigularis 

 of West Africa is grey-brown, with rusty crown, white throat, buff 

 under parts, and bright bay patches on the wing-coverts, the 

 upper back and neck exhibiting white streaks edged with black. 

 The lower back is blotched with black, the spurs are moderate. 



Of some five Asiatic species, F. sinensis — introduced into 

 Madagascar, Mauritius, and E(^union — alone reaches eastward of 

 Assam to China ; whereas F. pondicerianus has been imported 

 into Kodriguez and the Amirante Islands. 



Francolins are found in family parties rather than coveys, 

 and prefer localities near water, though these may consist of 

 rushy swamps, cultivated lands, stony slopes, or maritime plains. 

 Dry situations are, however, favoured, a sufficiency of cover being 

 the chief requisite, and an altitude of six thousand feet being 

 occasionally attained. Some forms roost upon the ground and 

 apparently never perch, others — respecially in South Africa — 

 resort habitually to trees at night or when disturbed ; but prob- 

 ably the style of country and the amount of persecution account 

 for this difference, while the decrease of the commoner species in 

 certain parts emphasises the fact that they are an easy prey to 

 gunners and other foes. These birds run with great rapidity, 

 and are extremely difficult to flush, still more so for a second 

 time ; when forced to rise they do so with a whirring noise, and fly 

 off heavily but swiftly, to pitch again as soon as possilile. Eepos- 

 ing in the shade during the hot hours, they feed in the morning 

 and evening, at which times the loud, shrill cry of three bell-like 

 notes, or the " hysterical laugh," may be heard in all directions. 

 The diet consists of insects, shoots of plants, berries, seeds, and bulbs, 

 the powerful bill being used for digging. The well-concealed nest 

 resembles that of a Partridge, the six to fourteen eggs, found in 



