THE GRAY FRANCOLINS 
The black and the gray francolins are presented in the same report 
for several reasons. Both inhabit southern Asia. Species ranges and 
the territory occupied by individual birds often overlap. Taxonomically, 
though not in appearance, they are closely related. Both are easy to 
raise in captivity and Foreign Game Introduction Program biologists had 
the opportunity to study them collectively as well as individually. 
Several major differences exist between these species. One is their 
relation to water. The gray is predominantly a semi-desert or arid-land 
francolin, found where yearly precipitation averages from 3 to about 40 
inches and the vegetation is inclined to be scattered or sparse. Yet it 
is adaptable to the somewhat thicker cover characteristic of grain, cot- 
ton or sugarcane fields as well as to scattered clumps of thick brush. 
The black francolin, on the other hand, is more at home in the denser 
vegetation associated with higher rainfall or, in semi-arid areas, in the 
brush, grass, weeds and cultivation common to watercourses and low-lying 
lands. 
In overall distribution the gray is less widespread than the black 
francolin, but within its range it favors a much wider variety of dry, 
arid to semi-moist habitats. It can maintain itself for long periods on 
the water available as dew or from not too succulent vegetation. Food- 
wise it is a much better scrounger than the black, and more independent 
of insects and cultivated crops. Summer temperatures within some parts 
of its range reach 120°F for several days though the average maximums 
are, of course, considerably lower. Likewise fairly warm winters are the 
rule with much below freezing temperatures seldom recorded, Yet intro- 
duced adults have survived -12°F on several occasions in the Mason Valley 
trial release area in Nevada (12). 
Of all those studied to date by Foreign Game Introduction Program 
biologists the gray francolin appears to be the species most likely to 
be adaptable to the semi-arid range and cultivated lands of the south- 
western United States. 
Taxonomy and Distribution 
Whereas the black francolins extend in range from Cyprus to Assan, 
the gray are found mainly from southern Iran to east-central India and 
south to northwestern Ceylon, It is an interesting question why they 
have never colonized the extensive desert of the Middle East as have the 
black francolins in suitable habitats. 
One species, Francolinus pondicerianus, divided into three sub- 
species, is recognized (6 and 42). These, together with their ranges, 
are detailed on page 3 of this report. Less speciation is to be ex- 
pected among gray francolins since they are birds of rather generalized 
and continuous dry habitats. 
47 
