FRANCOLINUS PILEATUS. 
the latter is closely barred with delicate undulated brown lines ; the vent and 
under tail coverts a pale ochry yellow, sparingly barred with zigzag brown 
lines. The two central tail feathers light reddish brown, closely mottled with 
delicate waved brown bars ; the remaining feathers dark umber-brown, except 
the outer vanes towards the quills, which are reddish brown freckled with 
indistinct lines of a darker shade. Bill dark horn-coloured ; eyes reddish 
brown • tai’si and toes pale Dutch orange ; claws and spurs a pale horn colour. 
Form. — Typical ; bill broad at the base, narrow and curved towards the 
point ; wings rounded, and when folded reach a little beyond the base of the 
tail ; the fourth and fifth quill feathers equal, and the longest, the third and 
sixth but little shorter, the second and first successively shorter ; tail slightly 
rounded. Tarsi and toes strong ; the former with a vertical row of large plates 
behind, which extends from the knee joint to the strong cylindrical spur with 
which each tarsus is armed ; the spur is situated rather nearer to the hinder 
toe than to the knee joint, tapers from the base, and is slightly curved, the 
convexity directed downwards ; the inner toe slightly longer than the outer. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to the 
tipofthctail 13 6 
of the hill from the angle of the 
mouth 1 0 
of the wings when folded 6 6 
of the tail 4 0 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 1 7 
of the middle toe 1 3 
of the inner toe 1 0 
of the hinder toe 0 3^ 
The female has no spurs to the tarsi ; in other respects she exhibits a close 
resemblance to the male. 
On the immediate banks of the Marikwa river, which flows in a north-easterly direction 
from Kurichane, we discovered the first specimens of this handsome Francolin. It showed but 
little disposition to resort to the jungle, though when disturbed in the more open localities, which 
it by choice frequents while feeding, it, like the last species, seeks concealment in the bosom of 
the thickets. Early in the morning specimens were observed, in moderate abundance, upon 
the open grassy plots which occurred, intersecting the wooded regions that skirted both sides 
of the stream, and there they appeared to find their food in plenty, which was found to 
consist of small bulbous roots, seeds, insects, See. To the same localities these buds were 
also observed to resort towards evening ; but at that period they were less leadily discovered, 
owing to their being commonly more silent at that time. During the middle of the day they 
were rarely observed, and from what was ascertained there were grounds foi believing they 
repose while the sun is warm, and that while enjoying rest, they aie geneially peiched upon 
dwarf trees or shrubs, no doubt to be the more secure from the teeth of the numerous preda- 
tory quadrupeds which are constantly traversing the woods in quest of prey. 
