PERDICINiE. 
Winffs  moderate  and  rounded,  with  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  quills  equal  and  longest.  7a^7  long, 
broad,  and  rounded.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  not  spurred,  covered  in  front  with  large 
divided  scales,  and  not  armed  with  spurs.  Toes  moderate,  with  the  anterior  ones  united  at  their  base ; 
the  lateral  toes  nearly  equal ; the  hind  toe  short ; the  claws  moderate,  and  slightly  curved. 
This  type  is  peculiar  to  Western  Africa. 
P.  ventralu  (Valenc.)  Jard.  & Selby,  III.  Orn.  n.  s.  pi.  16. — 
Perdix  fusca  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  212.  — Ptilopachus  erythro- 
rhynchus  Swains. ; Petrogallus  fuseus  Gray. 
Francolinus  Steph.* 
Bill  more  or  less  long,  with  the  culnien  at  the  base  dividing  the  frontal  plumes,  and  the  apical  half 
arched  to  the  tip,  which  is  obtuse,  and  sometimes  advancing  much  over  that  of  the  lower  mandible ; the 
sides  compressed  ; the  nostrils  lateral,  basal,  the  opening  placed  in  a nasal  groove,  and  covered  by  a hard 
rounded  scale.  Wings  moderate  and  rounded,  with  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  quills  the  longest. 
Tail  short,  sometimes  nearly  concealed  by  the  coverts.  Tarsi  strong,  as  long  as,  or  shorter  than,  the 
middle  toe,  armed  in  the  males  with  a spur  or  tubercle  on  each  leg.  Toes  more  or  less  lono-  the  fore 
toes  united  at  their  base  by  a membrane,  with  the  lateral  ones  nearly  equal,  the  outer  rather  the  longest ; 
the  hind  toe  short  ; the  claws  moderate,  and  slightly  curved. 
The  species  are  found  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Old  World,  especially  the  continent  of  Africa.  Some  prefer  the 
open  plains  covered  with  tufts  of  rank  grass  and  low  bushes;  these  do  not  usually  roost  in  trees.  Others  more 
generally  seek  the  woody  localities,  where  they  are  observed  perched  on  the  branches  among  the  foliage,  or  on  the 
decayed  branches  of  trees  near  the  margins  of  rivers.  When  alarmed,  they  seek  concealment  in  the  low  bushes  or 
brushwood,  in  the  densest  parts  of  the  jungles,  where  they  remain  till  the  cause  of  theu-  fright  has  disajDpeared.  Should 
such  hiding-places  not  be  near,  then  they  endeavour  to  escape  by  running,  which  they  perform  with  considerable  speed, 
and  only  take  wing  when  hard  pressed.  Bulbous  roots,  grain,  and  insects,  form  their  principal  food,  with  which  they 
mix  a quantity  of  gravel.  Their  feeding  time  Is  early  in  the  morning,  and  again  In  the  evening. 
1.  Vt.  vulgaris  Steph.  — Tetrao  francolinus  Linn.  PI.  enl.  147, 
148.  — Perdix  Hepburnii  Gray,  111.  Ind.  Zool.  pi.  55. 
2.  Fr.  pictus  (Jard.  & Selby)  111.  Orn.  pi.  50. 
S.  Yr.perlatus  (Ginel.)  Steph.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  213.  — Perdix 
maculata  Gray,  Zool.  Misc. ; P.  sinensis  Spalowsk,  Vog.  t.  SI. 
4.  Tr.  ponticerianus  (Gmel. ) Temm.  PI.  col.  213. — Perdix  ori- 
entalis  Gray,  111.  Ind.  Zool.  pi.  56.  f.  2. 
5.  Fi.  thoracAcus  {Temm.)  Pig.  et  Gal.  iii.  335. 
6.  Fr.  gularis  (Temm.)  Pig.  et  Gal.  iii.  401.,  Gray,  111.  Ind. 
Zool.  pi.  56.  f.  1. — Perdix  monogrammica  Valenc.  > 
7.  Fr.  Charltonii  (Eyton)  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  1845.  p.  230. 
8.  Fr.  Uoalcaratus  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  137. — Perdix  senegalensis 
Briss. ; P.  Adansoni  Temm. 
p.  Fr.  Erkelii  (Rupp.)  Faun.  Abyss,  t.  6. 
10.  Fr.  Le  Vaillantii  (Valenc.)  PI.  col.  477- 
11.  Fr.  Clappertoni  (Cbildr.)  Denh.  & Clapp.  Nar.  N.  & C.  Afr- 
App. 
12.  Fr.  Ruppellii  G.  R.  Gray. — Perdix  Clappertoni,  Atlas  Zool. 
t.  9. 
13.  Fr.  gariepensis  A.  Smith,  111.  Zool.  S.  Afr.  Birds,  pi.  83,  84. 
14.  Fr.  gutturalis  Rupp.  Faun.  Abyss,  p.  13.,  Ornit’h.  Faun,  von 
Nord-Ost.  Afr.  t.  40. 
15.  Fr.  natalensis  A.  Smith,  111.  Zool.  S.  Afr.  Birds,  pi.  13.— 
Francolinus  Lechoho  A.  Smith. 
16.  Fr.  afer  (Lath.)  Temm. 
17.  Fr.capensis  (Gmel.)  Forst.  Desc.  Anim.  p.  400.,  Icon.  ined. 
135.,  Less.  Tr.  d’Orn.  t.  87.  f.  2. 
18.  Fr.  adspersus  Waterh.  Alex.  App.  Exp.  of  Disc.  ii.  267. 
19-  Fr.  subtorquatus  A.  Smith,  111.  Zool.  S.  Afr.  Birds,  pi.  15.  — 
Perdix  Coqui  A.  Smith,  Rep.  S.  Afr.  Exp. 
* It  was  in  1819,  that  Mr.  Stephens  established  this  genus  (General  Zoology,  ix.  p.  303  1 Cha-tnm,,  xr  c • .,,1 
4 B 
