THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 10 1 



shrill but pleasing tones. This Francolin is a ground rooster, and 

 has only been known to take rufuge in trees when actually wounded. 

 The flight is strong without being very rapid. The flesh, even in 

 the old birds, is white, tender, and remarkably well flavoured. 



The Orange River Francolin {Francolbius gariepensis). 

 Fig. 50, Plate XL 



\_Stze^ shape, and appearance so strongly resemble the last de- 

 scribed that it requires a close examination to detect any difference. 

 The general colour throughout, however, will be found to present a 

 brighter and_ more highly variegated appearance, the legs are com- 

 paratively shorter, while the tail is broader and longer. It is also 

 thus distinguished from F. levaillanti ; — Reddish brown takes the 

 place of umber on the top of head ■ the under line of mottled black 

 and white feathers encloses the throat, which is white; the upper line, 

 also of black and white, disappears on the side of neck without 

 meeting.^ 



This species is not found any considerable distance South of the 

 Orange River, its range Northwards extending as far as the Zambesi. 

 Andersson statss that in the high table-lands of Damaraland and 

 Great Namaqualand it is quite common. In Bechuanaland and the 

 Transvaal it is equally termed the "Redwing" partridge with 

 F. levaillanti, and its haunts, habits, characteristics and call being in 

 every way similar to that species, extended reference is unnecessary. 



The Greywing Francolin (Francolinus afer). 



\_Size almost the same as, and at a distance somewhat resembles, 

 the English partridge. The colour generally is ashy grey ; back 

 covered with darker blotches and reddish brown cross bars, the 

 feathers streaked with pale brown; throat and stripe extending frojn 

 behind the eye down the neck to shoulder, white, tipped with black; 

 a reddish band mottled with black runs over the top of the head and 

 down the centre of back of neck ; bill black, long, and curved; tail 

 barred with dark and reddish brown. Males and sometimes old 

 females spurred.'] 



This bird is principally found in the mountainous districts of the 

 Cape Colony and Natal, but it occurs also in the Orange Free State 

 and the Transvaal. In Bechuanaland, Matabeleland or Damaraland, 

 It is unknown. The coveys generally average about ten or twelve 



