I04 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Red-billed Francolin (Francolinus adspersus). 



\_Size ahout the same as the Redwing^ resembling much in 

 appearance the Noisy Francolin (F. clamator) of the Cape Colony. 

 Uniform colour .^ dark shining grey ; entire surface covered with 

 minute.^ narrow., wavy., and closely-placed whitish lines; head crested; 

 hill and legs bright red.^ 



Known in the Interior of South Africa as the " Silver Partridge," 

 these birds are said at one period to have frequented the country 

 so far South as the Orange River ; if so, it must have been only in 

 its extreme Western Hmits. At the present time, however, it is 

 only found in the far North of the Transvaal and Bechuanaland, 

 and from thence to the Zambesi. It is common along the Crocodile, 

 Marico, and Notwani Rivers, and very abundant on the Botletle, 

 around Lake 'Ngami, and throughout Damaraland and Ovambo- 

 land, only being met with, however, in the very thick thorn bush 

 immediately skirting the river banks. Although the most difficult 

 of the whole tribe of Francolins to flush (and when they do 

 rise on the wing it is only for the purpose of concealing themselves 

 in the branches of some very thick bush), they are not by any 

 means shy in disposition, as the coveys, which usually consist of a 

 dozen birds, will, if undisturbed, occasionally be noticed feeding on 

 the refuse corn inside the occupied native kraals.* The voice is 

 peculiar, and can at once be recognised without any difficulty. It 

 consists, so to speak, of a succession of loud maniacal shrieks, 

 increasing in volume to a point at which they end suddenly. 



The Cape Red necked Francolin (Ptemistes nudicollis). 

 Fig. 43, Frontispiece. 



\_Size considerably smaller, but in shape and appearance very 

 much resembles its Northern congener (P. swainsoni). General 

 colour above, a rich dark brown; the centre of each feather striped 

 with a darker shade; breast and belly almost black, covered with 

 frequent broad and prominent white stripes; throat, chin, and space 

 rou7id eyes devoid of feathers, the skin of lohich is bright purplish 

 red."] 



The range of this Francolin is limited to some of the thickly 

 wooded Western maritime districts of the Cape Colony, Pondoland, 



* Mr. J^icolls has on several occasions, "when fishing along the Botletle River, observed 

 these birds approach to within a distance of three or four yards in a calm and unconcerned 

 nianner. 



