F orm, &c.—Figure moderately robust. Head small. Bill long and
slightly arched, the upper mandible much longer than the lower, flattened
and spatulate towards the point, the latter obtuse and semicircular. Wings
rounded, and when folded reach a little beyond the base of the tail; the
fourth, fifth, and sixth quill feathers longest, the second and third rather
shorter, and the first a little shorter than the second. Tail rather short and
rounded at the point. Tarsi compressed and reticulated, the scales in front
large, those behind rather smaller, and what cover the sides the smallest.
Toes moderately strong, with distinct rudimentary webs, the web between
the outer and middle toes well developed. Claws considerably curved, rather
strong and blunt at the points.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines. Inches. T,inos
Length from the point of the bill to Length of the tarsus............ 0
the tip of the t a i l ......... 14 6 of the outer toe . . . . ------ 0 11
of the bill to the angle of the of the middle toe . . . . . . . 1 2h mouth.......................... 1 8 of the inner toe......... ----- 0 H
of the wings when folded . . 6 6 of the hinder toe. . . . ----- 0 H
of the t a i l ......................... 2 6
Male.—Colours nearly the same as those of the female. In some specimens
each sex has the tarsi armed with a spur, in others that appendage is not
found in either.
Specimens of this F ra n c o lin are found in many districts of the Cape Colony; but the numbers
are greatest towards the sea-coasts, and in the eastern parts of the settlement. They
occur chiefly in open grassy plains; and they seek their food, which consists in a great measure
of small bulbous roots, among the herbage. When they are disturbed in their favourite
localities, they generally seek concealment in whatever brushwood may exist in the neighbourhood
; and when once they reach the cover it is no easy matter to get them again on the wing.
They continue motionless even though the copse be beaten by dogs; and as they perch on
such occasions, they are rarely discovered but by the hunters, who look for them among the
branches.
This species manifests a considerable resemblance to F ra n co lin u s Gariepensis ; but when
the two are contrasted many marked differences are palpable. The arrangement and tints of
the colours, if no better character existed, would even evince that they are not identical •
but there are more palpable and ready diagnostics by which each is to be recognised. The
bill of F . L e v a illa n tii is much longer and stronger than that of F . G a riep en sis; the number
and distribution of bands on the neck are different, the tarsi are considerably longer, the feet
larger, and the tail is shorter.