loam, often neutral to alkaline and adequate in phosphorus and potash 
but sometimes lacking in organic matter. The forest and hill soils, 
extending well out from the flanks of the Himalayas, are also a sandy to 
elay loam, often characterized by excessive soil moisture and with a pH 
varying from 5.6 to 8.4. The arid, semi-desert soils of the southern 
Punjab and Rajputania are of wind-blown sand to sandy loam, high in pH 
and in soluble salts, but with little organic matter. There are also 
large tracts of saline and alkaline soils that are relatively unproduc- 
tive because of their high content of sodium, magnesium, and calcium salts. 
Francolins are abundant on all of these soils wherever other habitat con- 
ditions are favorable. Interestingly enough the Assam black francolin 
is also common on the often acidic, alluvial plains of the Brahmaputra 
River and adjacent hill tracts. 
Climate 
The genus Francolinus is widely distributed throughout southern 
Asia and Africa in the tropical, subtropical and lower temperate zones. 
In their native range, francolins are seldom encountered where average 
minimum temperatures fall far below freezing in winter though summer 
temperatures may go up to 120°F in the habitat of some species. Many of 
the francolins are adapted for existence in arid regions though some, 
such as the Assam black francolin, thrive where the average annual 
precipitation is 100 to 150 inches a year. 
Throughout the range 
Black francolins, climatewise, are among the most adaptable species 
of the group. Some subspecies occur where average precipitation is less 
than 4 inches a year, others where rainfall is excessive, often occurring 
in torrential downpours, between April and October. Snow is not common 
in black francolin range but the species will withstand more cold than 
any other group of Asian, and probably African, francolins. | 
Precipitation patterns over the range of the black francolins vary 
from almost no rainfall at any time of year to considerable in every 
month. Between these extremes the only common component is the occurrence 
of periods of 2 to 5 months in which precipitation is markedly deficient. 
Five general patterns are recognizable as follows: 
1. Very little precipitation at any period of the year. Where this 
is the dominant pattern, black francolins are found in abundance along 
the live streams, irrigation ditches and in low-lying areas where water 
is close to the surface. 
2. Considerable precipitation in summer, often with a second period 
of moderate rainfall in late winter or early spring. This is the pattern 
through much of India where dry farming is often the rule. In parts of 
West Pakistan where rainfall is from 3 to 15 inches annually, black fran- 
colins are naturally more dependent upon the thicker cover of the Indus 
floodplain and of irrigated fields. In areas where annual precipitation 
exceeds 20 imches a year, black francolins may be abundant in crop and 
tall grasslands even though they are located far from streams or canals. 
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