GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Sparrow-Hawk, and the Francolin flew perhaps a quarter of 

 a mile at a time, screaming aU the way ; it would then pitch 

 and dodge the Hawk in grass or rough bush, but immediately 

 the Hawk settled the Francolin would take to flight again 

 and the whole performance would be gone through again. 



SheUey's Francolin is generally distributed throughout 

 Natal, frequenting the coast-lands as well as the " thorns " 

 up-country ; like most other FrancoUns it calls at dawn and 

 late at night with a clear and distinct whistle. 



Mr. J. ffolliott Darling writes that this Francolin is widely 

 distributed in Mashonaland, and is found in every kind of 

 country excepting near the " vleis " ; it is probably most 

 abundant in lightly wooded country ; sometimes a covey will 

 haunt a bare kopje without a bush on it and with scarcely 

 a blade of grass ; there the birds hide between the stones and 

 rocks, and he so close, even when a dog points to them, that 

 it is often possible to catch them in the hand ; the Mashonas 

 frequently foUow them and watching where they pitch, kiU 

 them with sticks. 



They are fond of digging up roots of grass in the dry season 

 and become very fat in consequence ; they also gorge them- 

 selves on locusts. 



The nest is of the usual simple construction common to 

 most Francolins, and eggs have been found in every month 

 from June to November. 



The covey consists as a rule of two or three brace ; they 

 nest in the grass or in the vicinity of some old field which 

 they frequent ; Mr. Millar found a nest in August containing 

 five eggs which were minutely spotted, and measured 1.5 

 by 1.0 in. 



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