THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 103 



The Pileated Francolin (Francolinus pileatus). Fig. 52, 

 Plate XI. 



[^Stze a little smaller than the Redwing. General colour above .^ 

 light reddish brown, each feather having a very distinct white stripe 

 down the centre; head crested; breast and belly pale bluish yellow, 

 the lower portion of the former being regularly marked with large 

 liver-brown spots; legs deep red ; bill black.'\ 



The Pileated Francolin is somewhat suggestive of the French 

 red-legged partridge, and is first met with Northward on the main 

 road to the Zambesi in the Bamanwaketsi or Kanya country, in 

 Bechuanaland, the range extending to the Northern portion of the 

 Transvaal, and throughout Damaraland and Matabeleland. Its 

 favourite haunts are on the slopes of some timbered, stony kopjie, 

 the bird being often discovered at considerable distances from water. 

 It is to be found in small coveys, and, like the last mentioned 

 Francolin, it is difficult to flush, when pursued by dogs invariably 

 taking refuge in the branches of trees, from whence, with crest and 

 tail erect, as if fearless of danger, it gives vent to its harsh, metallic 

 and far-resounding " chi-ra-ka." The flesh is excellent. 



The Coqui Francolin (Francolinus subtorquatus). Fig. 51, 

 Plate XI. 



[^Size about the same as a very small partridge, and somewhat 

 resembling the Redwing in appearance, the colouring, however, 

 being much duller; two dark lines above and below the eyes; under 

 portions dull white, lightly tinged with yellow, barred with brown; 

 base of bill, legs, and feet golden yellow ; all the feathers more or 

 less marked with a white stripe down the centre.'\ 



This is the smallest of the African Francolins, and is found in Natal, 

 but it is very common in the Northern portions of the Transvaal, 

 Bechuanaland, throughout Matabeleland, 'Ngamiland, and Ovam- 

 boland. It generally frec[uents broken country covered with low, 

 scrubby, but not very dense, bush in the vicinity of water. 

 Although a ground-roosting bird, it will very often when flushed 

 by dogs take refuge in trees. It is usually met with in coveys of 

 from ten to fourteen, which afford good sport with trained dogs. 

 The flesh is quite white and very delicious, excelling that of any 

 other species of Francolin. 



