An interesting study of ten gray francolins, introduced into Nevada, 
and subsequently collected for food analysis, was carried out by Chris- 
tensen and Alcorn (12) in 1960 to 1962. The following plants, listed as 
to frequency of occurrence, were identified: 
Barley (Hardeum vulgare) Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) 
Barnyard grass (Echinochloa Barnyard grass leaves and chaff 
crusgalli) Jackass clover (Wislizenia 
Barley chaff refracta) 
Pigweed (Chenopodium sp.) Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) 
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Grass leaves 
Milo maize (Sorghum vulgare) Sunflower (Helianthus sp.) 
The availability of drinking water seems to be of but Little concern 
to the gray francolin. Where dew or fairly succulent vegetation is avail- 
able this species can subsist for long periods without taking a drink of 
water. As a test we once kept a captive gray francolin for two months on 
grain supplemented daily with a single leaf of lettuce the size of the 
palm of our hand. Occasionally the bird was also offered water to drink, 
which was generally refused. Interestingly it, and several others among 
our captive grays also refused bourbon and other liquors except scotch 
(the British influence?). Of this they would take 5 to 8 sips but never 
enough to exhibit the slightest untoward effect. In all our field studies 
of gray francolins throughout West Pakistan and India no birds were ob- 
served drinking. In fact it was not uncommon to see these birds several 
miles from the nearest known water even in the blistering heat of early 
summer. In captivity they consume substantially less water than do 
chukars or black francolins. 
General Habits 
Movements and Mobility 
These francolins are nonmigratory and generally sedentary though they 
unquestionably move about the country for short distances in search of food. 
That they will travel far if the need arises, was demonstrated graphically 
when in 1956 the lower Indus river overflowed its banks, inundating our 
trapping sites and creating a flooded plain up to 50 miles wide, Fora 
month little but trees, an occasional rise of land and a few irrigation 
banks were visible above the water. This forced both the resident black 
and the gray francolins to move distances up to 20 miles to find food and 
shelter. Yet, within three weeks of the abatement of the flood, both 
species were again observed in the usual numbers in many areas from which 
they had been driven. 
While no birds were banded during the study in Pakistan or India, 
apparently resident populations were observed in several semi-isolated 
habitats less than 100 acres in extent. Numerous records in the litera- 
ture attest to birds nesting, raising a brood and being frequently seen 
throughout the year in compounds or gardens, only a few acres in extent, 
within the limits of large cities. 
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