50 PONDS, PADDOCKS, AND AVIARIES 



two species of South American jay, the common blue 

 jay of North America, the so-called ' blue robin ' from 

 the same country, the green leaf-bird from South India, 

 and a troupial from Brazil. 



" In what we at Lilford specially designate as the 

 Aviaries I have a considerable variety of birds from different 

 parts of the world. Amongst those most likely to arrest 

 the attention of visitors unlearned in birds are a group 

 of avocets, with their curiously delicate upturned beaks, 

 their plumage of pure black and white, and their long grey 

 legs and half-webbed feet. These pretty and interesting 

 birds were formerly common in certain parts of England, 

 and bred in considerable numbers upon the coast of Norfolk, 

 but have now become scarce from the persecution of gunners 

 and egg-stealers. My avocets were sent to me from 

 Holland. We have also several sea-pies, better known 

 perhaps as oyster-catchers, and a good many other small 

 wading birds, such as curlew, godwits of both species, 

 ruffs and reeves, redshanks and knots. The antics of the 

 ruffs during May and June are most amusing. 



"As I believe that the breeding of the wood-pigeon 

 in captivity is not a common occurrence, I mention that 

 a pair of these birds nested and laid four times last year, 

 in the compartment of the aviary nearest to the house at 

 Lilford, and reared three young birds to maturity. I have 

 a fine pair of the wood-pigeon peculiar to the island of 

 Madeira (Columba trocaz), and many of the very beautiful 

 crested doves of Australia, which breed freely in the bushes 



