the crop contents of 23 black francolins collected seasonally between 
Karachi and Sukkur, West Pakistan in 1955-1957. The results were 
published in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 
Faruqi et al (20) and are reproduced here for ready reference. 
"The study indicates clearly that this species is omnivorous. A 
total of 19 different genera of plants and 4 orders (including 12 
species) of insects were found in the crops examined; In addition, one 
bird had eaten an earthworm, one a spider, two more had fed almost en- 
tirely on human excrement, and one, collected after a rainstorm, had 
swallowed a 1% inch toad. Of the 23 birds examined 2 had consumed 
insects only, 9 plants only, and 12 had eaten both, 
“Insects are eaten at all seasons of the year. Ants and beetles 
were commonly found in the crops, although wasps and flies were also 
identified. One bird, collected in August, had eaten 21 ants, 1 earth- 
worm, 4 unidentified larvae, about 500 small pink midges, and a spider. 
"Plants, however, make up the bulk of the food of the black franco- 
lin throughout the year. Seeds of mustard (Brassica campestris), wild 
pea (Lathyrus sativus), cultivated grain, and grass seed were most 
commonly eaten. Parts of 20 different species of plants were identified 
which included seeds, fruits, tubers, grains, leaves, and a small amount 
of roughage in the form of twigs, husks, and dried grasses. 
"In winter the wild pea and the common mustard are favorite foods. 
GQne bird shot in February had made a meal of 250 wild peas; another, of 
over 300 mustard seeds with some leaves from the same species. 
"In spring, with the harvesting of the winter grains underway, the 
birds often turn their attention to wasted wheat (Triticum vulgare), 
barley (Hordeum sp.), and rice (Oryza sativa) whenever they are avail- 
able, although other seeds are by no means avoided. One bird, collected 
in April, had scratched up and eaten 12 large tubers of a desert sedge 
(Cyperus arenarius) and others had fed largely on wild peas. 
"Tt is during the summer and fall, however, that the black franco- 
lin seeks out a great variety of plant foods. Most of those mentioned 
above were commonly found in the crops examined, but the largest number 
of seeds and inflorescences were from four genera of grasses that 
ripened at this time. One individual, collected in September, had a 
full crop of 1850 grass seeds representing four species, 250 seeds of 
Indian mallow (Abutilon sp.), one seed of Rhynchosia sp., and five other 
seeds, still unidentified. Another bird, shot in October, had consumed 
about 1000 seeds of Setaria verticillata and 54 seeds of three other 
grass species." 
Table 2 gives the seasonal analysis of foods eaten, as listed by 
Faruiqi et al. 
25 
