326 



Adult Female (Rabat). Closely resembles the male, but lacks the spurs. Wing 64 inches, tail 30, 

 tarsus 2 - l. 



A resident species in West Africa, the present Francolin occurs only within the extreme south- 

 western limits of the Western Palsearctic area. Its range extends from Morocco down to the 

 Niger. Capt. S. G. Reid (Ibis, 1885, p. 251) says that specimens have been received from 

 Mogador, where it appears to be common, and that " Olcese received a consignment of six 

 live ones from near Casa Blanca this winter, and tried hard to keep them alive. They all died 

 however, probably from the unusual severity of the winter, and were converted into skins, one 

 of which I brought home with me." Col. Irby also remarks that this is no doubt the species 

 mentioned by Mr. Drake, and occurs as far north in Morocco as Rabat. Swainson records it 

 from Senegal. Governor Ussher obtained it at Accra, on the Gold Coast, where, according to 

 Messrs. Shelley and Buckley (Ibis, 1872, p. 290), it is sufficiently numerous to afford fair sport; 

 and Governor Ussher adds (Ibis, 1874, p. 72) that it is common all over the Gold Coast. The 

 late Mr. W. A. Forbes recorded it (Ibis, 1883, p. 518) from Egga, on the Niger, and a male 

 obtained by him at Shonga, on the Niger, is now in the British Museum. 



I find nothing on record respecting the habits of the present species beyond what is given 

 by Governor Ussher, who says (I. c.) that " they are found (on the Gold Coast) in coveys of from 

 four or five to a dozen. They frequent cassava-plantations, and do much damage to young 

 plants, as also to ground-nuts and maize. 



" Towards sunset the loud cry of the male bird is heard, and he can be observed, generally 

 stationed in a commanding position on the top of an ant-hill or low tree, calling together his 

 family. 



" They are fine birds, and afford good sport, as well as excellent food for the table. Unless 

 killed dead, they generally manage to drag themselves through the grass, and are almost 

 impossible to find ; and as they are very strong on the wing, not more than fifty per cent, of 

 those killed can generally be brought to bag." 



Lord Lilford has received this Francolin alive from Morocco, and has at present several in 

 his aviary at Lilford Hall, where I have seen them. In 1894 a female laid five eggs, out of 

 which four young were hatched and successfully reared, and he informs me that the late 

 Comte de Paris turned out several of these birds, which he (Lord Lilford) procured for him from 

 Morocco, in his " Coto " near Villa Manrique, where, up to the last accounts received, they were 

 doing well, but had not then had time to breed. 



I find nothing on record respecting the nidification of this Francolin, but it doubtless, like 

 its congeners, makes its nest on the ground amongst the grass or bushes. 



I am indebted to Lord Lilford for two eggs of this Francolin laid in the aviary at Lilford 

 Hall in 1879 by birds from Rabat, presented to him by Mr. T. Reade, H.M. Consul at Cadiz. 

 These eggs are uniform creamy buff in colour, rather pointed towards the smaller end, but 

 otherwise shaped like those of the Pheasant, and measure L86 by L40 inch, and L92 by 1-43 

 inch respectively. They are dull in texture, and entirely lack the gloss on the eggs of the 

 Pheasant. 



The Plate of this species is drawn from a sketch taken by Mr. A. Thorburn of a live bird 



