P. J. Lambert—Waders



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they spring at one another, but instead of the deadly fight we anticipated,

one finds it is merely a friendly spar and off one dashes for further

fun ; he runs into a Whimbrel and the latter immediately seizes the

Ruff’s beak, shakes it, and releases it. A Godwit comes chatting along

and inquisitively inquires what all the trouble is about; both the Ruff

and Whimbrel attack the new arrival and then the whole group of

birds give vent to their various calls. It is great and youthful fun and

of a most entertaining nature as it never ceases. Now a Godwit standing

behind a large stone sees a Curlew approaching, it backs just as a

boy would hide, the Curlew passes and the Godwit springs from its

lair, another spar and as usual no damage is done, but if that Godwit

did not smile then I have made a grievous miscalculation of bird life.

Now we will throw them some worms. A Lapwing, which incidentally

is a marvellously quick bird, has seized a lob worm and the other

Waders near by are after it, a Ruff seizes the other end, and a Godwit

intervening decides the “ middle cut ” may prove profitable and thus

the unhappy worms meets its “ Waterloo ”. So the fun goes on.

Now a Whimbrel decides on a bath and what is more pleasing than to

watch such birds perform their ablutions ? Others, jealous of the fun,

join him and within a few moments seven or eight have joined the

bathing party. Such is their daily fife, endless activity and playful

excursions : that, after all, is the secret of their charm. One must not

expect gay colouring, they are generally of sombre nature. The Ruff,

however, is a bird of most extraordinary plumage, no two Ruffs are

alike and surely this is one of the most amazing peculiarities known

to aviculture ? The colouring of their collars varies in a marvellous

manner, some white, others grey or brown ; moreover the facial skin

varies and yet the Reeve (female of the variety) are all alike, and

these birds are not given to playful habits as are the males.


I have kept Waders with Pheasants ; the Waders ignore the

Pheasant and vice versa, thus they live together in perfect content. I

will confess that I have not yet tried to induce these birds to

breed in confinement, but I feel convinced that there will be no

insuperable difficulties. One imagines that small aviaries will be

necessary, and that in the spring pairs must be housed in these.

Next autumn I intend to build a few such aviaries. Small ponds



