§ 81. Mr. E. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Works when the last census of waterfowl on the lake in St. James's Park was taken; and what were the numbers of each species.
§ Mr. EcclesA census of the ornamental waterfowl was taken on 6th December, 1950. A record has been kept of the losses and additions since then. The up to date list is given below. No record is kept by my Department of the numbers of wild birds on the lake as these vary220W constantly, but some species of wild birds are from time to time counted by the London Natural History Society.
The list is as follows
WILDFOWL INTRODUCED INTO ST. JAMES'S PARK, NOVEMBER, 1951 Species Number Abyssinian Blue-Winged Goose 2 American Green-winged Teal 1 American Wigeon 2 Ashy-headed Goose 1 Bahama Pintail 1 Bar-headed Goose 1 Blue Snow-Goose 5 Carolina Duck 5 Chilian Teal 1 Chinese Domestic Goose 1 Cinnamon Teal 2 Egyptian Goose 1 Gadwall Numbers vary Garganey 2 Lesser Snow-Goose 1 Mandarin Duck 1 Muscovy Duck 5 Pink-footed Goose 2 Pintail 7 Red-breasted Goose 2 Red-crested Pochard Numbers vary Rosybill 4 Ruddy Sheld-duck 2 Sheld-duck 2 Hybrid Sheld-duck Numbers vary Shoveler 4 South African Sheld-duck 1 South African Yellow-billed Duck 1 Southern Pochard 1 White-fronted Goose 1 Widgeon 9 (including one wild drake) Hybrid: Pintail X Red-crested Pochard 1
§ 82. Mr. E. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Works how many offers he has received of pelicans for St. James's Park; by whom were these offers made; and which of them have been accepted.
§ Mr. EcclesGifts of pelicans were offered by the Governor of Texas, the State of Louisiana, the Ameer of Bahawalpur, and private citizens in Kenya, Florida and Great Britain. The offers of the Governor of Texas, the State of Louisiana, the Ameer of Bahawalpur and of the private citizen in Kenya have been accepted.
§ Mr. E. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Works whether he will ensure that any pelicans allocated to St. James's Park will include at least one bird of each sex.
§ Mr. EcclesI am informed that the only sure guide to the sex of a pelican is another pelican. I am awaiting developments.