A RARE FOREST FRANCOLIN 
189 
A RARE FOREST FRANCOLIN 
Francolinus lathami schubotzi 
By Dr. Y. G. L. van Someren 
Since the publication of the notes on ‘ East African and 
Uganda Francolins ’ by Sir F. Jackson, in Journal No. 1, 
vol. i., two very rare and interesting Francolins have been 
found in Uganda, these are Francolinus lathami schubotzi and 
Francolinus nahani. 
There is no record of these birds having been seen or taken 
previous to my collectors having obtained them in 1918. 
Francolinus l. schubotzi was described by Prof. Reichenow 
as recently as 1912, in J. Ornith. lx., p. 820, from specimens 
collected on the Uelle River in Belgian Congo, and F. nahani 
in 1905 by Dubois, from a single immature specimen, collected 
on the Ituri river, Belgian Congo. (Dubois, Ann. Mus. 
Congo, i., 1905, p. 17, pi. X.) 
In these notes I propose to deal with F. 1. schubotzi, and 
with F. nahani in the next Journal. 
Francolinus lathami lathami was known as far back as 
1854, when it was described by Hartlaub, its range being 
confined to Western Africa. The male of the sub-species 
differs from the typical bird in having the cheeks pure white 
or delicate pearl-grey; the cordate or circular spots on the 
under side not so large ; and the abdomen white, with black 
cross-bars. The flanks are brownish with distinct white 
shaft-streaks outlined with black, and the under tail-coverts 
black, with white shaft-spots and stripes, and slight barring. 
Females differ in practically the same way as do the males, 
but the most striking difference is the colour of the cheeks, 
which in this sub-species is reddish-brown, not grey. 
Young males resemble the adult males, but are more 
marbled and more rufous above, while the scapular feathers 
have ochraceous shaft-stripes. 
