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Correspondence



in a wild state, and is only found in South China, towards the north

of Fo-kien and perhaps in Che-kiang. He says that most of the

Golden and Silver Pheasants that one sees in Shanghai come from

Japan, where these two Chinese species are reared in captivity.”— Ed.]



THE HEARING OF FOSTER-CHILDREN BY CAYENNE


LAPWINGS


One of the most interesting happenings amongst the birds at

Lilford at the present time is the rearing of three Common Lapwings

(Vanellus vulgaris) by two females or a pair of Cayenne Lapwings.

(Vanellus cayennensis). The latter, natives of South America, resemble

our English Lapwing in appearance, but are considerably larger,

differently coloured, and are armed with a decided spur on the shoulder

of each wing. Delightful aviary birds, these examples have thrived

here for some years. In 1931 they made a typical Lapwing’s nest and

devotedly sat upon clear eggs ; these, four in number, closely resembled

certain types of Common Lapwing’s eggs, but on the whole were more

like those of the Avocet.


Nesting again, in April of the present year, fears were entertained

that the eggs might again be infertile. Search was therefore instituted

for a Lapwing’s nest, which was kept under observation until our

doubts were verified. On 7th May three Lapwing’s eggs on the point

of being chipped were placed under the American bird, the fourth being

left with the natural parent. The young, on leaving the nest two days

later, behaved as only young Peewits can behave ; they squatted

about, reappearing only when they judged from the call of their foster-

parents that the coast was clear. From the first they took to earth¬

worms, and a week later were eating artificial food freely ; and at

the time of writing (1st June) are half-grown, partly feathered, and

apparently out of all danger.


The Cayenne birds, I may add, have been most devoted parents,

incessantly calling when danger threatened and brooding often during

the cold, wet spells.



A. F. Moody.



