SHWIMPI OR COQUI FRANCOLIN 



was riding with the front line of the advanced guard near 

 Zeerust when a covey of Shwimpi were flushed three or four 

 times. The last time, I saw them run along in front of the 

 horses and three went down a meer-cat hole, out of which 

 I promptly pulled them, and our mess of six officers had 

 half a bird each on biscuit for dinner. This incident I 

 remember well, as an extra guest turned up for the meal, 

 and my Irish batman thrust his head into my tent and 

 demanded : " Will I divide them three partridges into sivin 

 halves ? " — which was rather a defeating question. 



They are excellent-eating. 



Mr. E. C. Chubb, writing in the "Ibis" (1909, p. 142), 

 says that it is fairly common throughout the year at Buluwayo, 

 South Rhodesia, and that it breeds there. He further states 

 that it begins to pair at the end of October and lays from 

 four to eight eggs in a slight hollow in the grass. 



The cry is a loud and penetrating call of " Kwee-kit," 

 and for a long time I thought it was the note of some 

 small bird, imtil I saw a Shwimpi calling quite close to me, 

 as I sat under a tree waiting for a shot at a Steinbuck. 



This Francolin does well in captivity and soon becomes 

 tame and friendly. 



It is very common near Zeerust, in the Magaliesberg 

 Mountains, and fairly common round Potchefstroom wherever 

 there are sufficient thorn trees. 



The eggs are pale greenish-white, and measure about 

 .1.5 by 1.3 in. 



Mr. Millar writes : ' These birds are plentiful through- 

 out Natal, although more partial to the coast lands ; they 

 are resident aU the year round. Old mealie fields and Kaffir 

 gardens are the favourite haunts, the coveys consisting of 

 three or four brace ; they seldom settle in trees, although 



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