Lapwing

Vanellinae are any of various crested plovers, family Charadriidae, noted for its slow, irregular wingbeat in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. Its length is 10–16 inches. They are a subfamily of medium-sized wading birds which also includes the plovers and dotterels. The Vanellinae are collectively called lapwings but also contain the ancient red-kneed dotterel. A lapwing can be thought of as a larger plover.

The traditional terms "plover", "lapwing" and "dotterel" were coined long before modern understandings of the relationships between different groups of birds emerged: in consequence, several of the Vanellinae are still often called "plovers", and the reverse also applies, albeit more rarely, to some Charadriinae (the "true" plovers and dotterels).

In Europe, "lapwing" often refers specifically to the northern lapwing, the only member of this group to occur in most of the continent.

Systematics

While authorities generally agree that there about 25 species of Vanellinae, classifications within the subfamily remain confused. At one extreme, Peters recognised no less than 20 different genera for the birds listed in 2 genera here; other workers have gone so far as to group all the "true" lapwings (except the red-kneed dotterel) into the single genus Vanellus. Current consensus favors a more moderate position, but it is unclear which genera to split. The Handbook of Birds of the World provisionally lumps all Vanellinae into Vanellus except the Red-kneed Dotterel, which is in the monotypic Erythrogonys. Its plesiomorphic habitus resembles that of plovers, but details like the missing hallux (hind toe) are like those of lapwings: it is still not entirely clear whether it is better considered the basalmost plover or lapwing.

Lapwing (1787 sloop)

Lapwing was a sloop of 34 tons (bm), launched in 1787, that in 1790 traded between London and Africa. Lloyd's Register gives her master as Williams and her owner as G. Sharpe.

Granville Sharpe acquired her to facilitate the work of the St. George's Bay Company in providing a safe haven for destitute Africans in Sierra Leone and elsewhere.

The broker for the company purchased Lapwing for £186 on 12 February 1790 at the Customs House.Lapwing herself was in the "condemned hold", a location in Wapping, London where ships seized for smuggling were held before Customs disposed of them.

The Lapwing Expedition

Lapwing set sail for Sierra Leone in late 1790 carrying relief supplies for the settlers there. On the return journey in 1791 she carried the Temne prince John Naimbanna to London. During his stay in London, Naimbanna became friends with Henry Thornton and Granville, and when Naimbanna converted to Christianity he adopted the forenames Henry and Granville in their honour.

Later career

Lapwing (1762 EIC packet)

Lapwing was a packet ship built in France in 1762 that the British East India Company acquired. She made two round-trips to India for the company, with the EIC selling her in 1765 in Bengal on her third voyage.

EIC voyages

Captain John Griffin (or Griffen) left Britain on 5 April 1762, bound for Madras. He returned on 12 March 1763.

Captain Griffin left Plymouth on Plymouth on 5 April 1763. Lapwing reached Johanna on 22 July, and arrived at Madras on 20 August. Homeward bound, she reached the Cape on 14 November, St Helena on 6 December, and Torbay on 1 February 1764, before arriving at The Downs on 13 February.

Captain John Griffin started on 28 March 1764, bound for Bengal, but did not leave Portsmouth until 3 June. By 6 December Lapwing had reached Acheh. On 23 January 1765 she arrived at Ingeli, a point on the west side of the Hooghli Estuary. On 4 April she was at Calcutta. The EIC sold Lapwing there in 1765.

Citations & references