Genus FRANCOLINUS. 



Gen. Char. Beak strong, middle size, convex above, and incurved towards the tip. Nostrils 

 basal, lateral, half closed by a naked arched membrane. Tail moderate, very slightly 

 rounded, and consisting of twelve feathers. Feet four-toed, naked ; the tarsi of the male 

 with strong blunt spurs. Wings short. 



EUROPEAN FRANCOLIN. 



Francolinus vulgaris. 



Le Francolin a collier roux. 



It is delightful to examine the series of affinities by which the natural groups of animated nature are connected ; 

 and although we cannot at all times clearly trace this connexion, yet we must believe the deficiency to exist 

 in ourselves, and not in those laws of relation which the Creator appears to have impressed upon all his works. 

 In the bird before us we trace, or fancy we can trace, one of those unions through which the splendid-coloured 

 Pheasants of the East are united to the sober-coloured Quails and Partridges of the European Continent ; its 

 form and habits connecting it with the latter, while its colouring manifests a relationship to the beautiful 

 Oriental genus Tragopan, of which many examples have recently come under our immediate inspection. The 

 near relationship which we fancy exists between the genera Francolinus and Tragopan, consists in their 

 general style of colouring, in their short spurs, and in the conformation of the beak. Another section of the 

 genus Francolinus, peculiar to Africa, exhibits also a form differing from these in the structure of the beak, in 

 which particular, as well as in the uses to which it is applied in obtaining food, it assimilates to the Oriental 

 genus Lophophorus : still between these groups we may yet expect to find others, harmonizing with each, so as 

 to form a complete concatenation. 



Of the genus Francolinus, the present is the only species indigenous to Europe. Unlike its African con- 

 geners, which feed on bulbous roots, for procuring which their beak is expressly adapted, our European bird 

 differs little in its food and form of beak from the true Partridge. It however exhibits a preference for 

 moist and humid districts, and perches on trees. In Europe, its habitat appears to be exclusively confined to 

 the southern regions, as Sicily, Malta, and the Neapolitan territories ; but it is also found in the North of 

 Africa, and over the greater portion of the Asiatic Continent, and we have also received it in collections from 

 the Himalaya Mountains. 



Respecting its habits and nidification we have nothing to communicate. Like most gallinaceous birds, its 

 flesh is very delicate, and much esteemed in India. 



In the male, the feathers on the top of the head are black with a margin of yellowish brown ; ear-coverts 

 white ; circle round the eyes, lower part of the cheeks, sides of the head, and throat of a deep black ; below 

 which a broad chestnut collar extends round the neck ; wings and back yellowish brown, each feather having 

 a dark reddish brown centre, except those of the quills which are barred with this colour ; rump and tail- 

 coverts white, barred with black, as are also the middle tail-feathers, the outer ones being entirely black ; breast 

 and lower parts black ; sides blotched with black and white ; thighs brownish barred with black ; under tail- 

 coverts chestnut ; beak black ; legs reddish flesh-colour ; tarsi spurred. 



In the female, the general ground colour of the plumage is a yellowish brown, darker on the cheeks and 

 quill-feathers, and becoming paler on the under parts ; the feathers of the back and wings are marked as in 

 the male ; the breast and under surface irregularly crossed with barb-shaped marks of dark brown ; the rump 

 and tail-coverts barred alternately with broad marks of obscure brown and narrow lines of white ; under tail- 

 coverts chestnut ; beak brownish ; legs reddish ; tarsi unarmed. 

 We have figured a male and female of the natural size. 



