Thomas Hinton—Notes on the Birds of St. James's Park 125



flight for as long as an hour. In 1903 four more Pelicans were intro¬

duced from Kew Gardens, these being pinioned birds. The full-winged

birds resented the appearance of these rivals and disappeared from

the lake, both being shot—one on Frensham Ponds and the other at

Seaford in Sussex. We still have one of the birds that came from Kew

Gardens in 1903, the other three having died at various times. Four

more Pelicans were presented a few years ago, two of which flew away

in 1929 and were not heard of again.


Early in the War the lake was drained and temporary Government

Offices erected, the birds being confined in a small space immediately

in front of the Lodge. During the air raids over London several birds

were killed by small pieces of shrapnel. A Moorhen was found to have

a piece of shrapnel J in. in length embedded in the fleshy part of its

leg. Also a wild Duck shot during the War was found to have a large

ball of shrapnel, about the size of a marble, in its leg.


After the War the lake and Pelicans’ rocks were remodelled, and

during this time the waterfowl were removed to an enclosure at one end

of the Regent’s Park Lake. Generous gifts, together with the ordinary

restocking, have since made this collection one of the best.


We have on the water a pair of African Grey-headed Shelduck.

These birds were a gift to the Park in 1930, and since their introduction

have bred here. Another gift was some Whistling Ducks, one of which

has become so tame that it will follow me about and allow me to pick

it up.


Cormorants were kept in St. James’s Park until about 1911, and

a pair were reintroduced in 1921. These birds did not attempt to nest

until 1932, when they reared one young bird. Two Cormorants were

reared in the following year and four last year.


Pheasants were introduced in the Park in 1925, the first being bred

from sittings of eggs. Since then their numbers

have increased and the birds have flown into

Buckingham Palace Gardens, Hyde Park, and

Kensington Gardens.


The Tufted Ducks have so far established

themselves as to be now almost as numerous as

the Common Mallard. Another species breeding

rapidly in the Parks is the Gadwall Duck.



