296 Observations on the Dottrel. 



beautiful and romantic scenery in the county of Cumberland. 



Dr. Heysham, I believe, is one of the first naturalists in 

 this country who has given any authentic information relative 

 to the habits of this bird. In his ' Catalogue of Cumberland 

 Animals' I find the following remarks: "The dottrel comes 

 in May, is a scarce bird in this county, but is more plentiful 

 in Westmoreland. In June, 1784, ten or twelve were shot on 

 Skiddaw, where they breed. On the 18th of May, 1786, I 

 had two females sent from the neighbourhood of Appleby; on 

 dissection, I found the eggs very small, so that it is probable 

 that they do not lay till June. They leave this county the 

 latter end of September or beginning of October ; I have seen 

 one which was shot on the top of Skiddaw on the ] 6th of 

 September."* At the time the above was written, Dr. Hey- 

 sham had seen three eggs of this bird, which had been found 

 on Skiddaw. The subjoined description of these eggs was 

 published in the ' Philosophical Magazine,' along with a few 

 remarks of my own on this species. Dr. Heysham's MS. is 

 still in my possession. 



" Sometime last summer a nest of the dottrel was found on 

 Skiddaw. The old bird was killed, and the eggs brought a- 

 way, which were three or four in number. I saw three of 

 them ; they are somewhat larger than a magpie's egg, the 

 ground is a dirty clay colour, marked with large irregular 

 black spots. February 14th, 1785." f 



In the 'Ornithological Dictionary' and 'Supplement,' Col. 

 Montagu relates the following particulars. "The dottrel ap- 

 pears to make this country a resting place in its migratory 

 flights to and from its breeding place. It is seen on some of 

 our downs, heaths, and moors, from April, to the beginning 

 of June, and returns again in September, and remains till No- 

 vember. On the Wiltshire downs it resorts to the new-sown 

 corn or fallow ground, for the sake of worms, its principal 

 food. They fly in families of four or six, in the autumn, 

 which we have observed to be the two old birds and their 

 young ; but sometimes a dozen or more flock together. It is 

 a stupid bird, and easily shot ; when disturbed it will frequent- 

 ly extend one wing, and does not fly to a great distance. It 

 doubtless goes northward to breed, but we do not find any 

 one who mentions the nest or eggs. It is probable some may 

 breed in the mountains of Scotland. We once saw them in 

 pairs in that country, sufficiently late to form such an opin- 

 ion, and we are not singular in this conjecture." X 



* Hutchinson's 'History of Cumberland,' vol. i. p. 19. 1794. 



f'Phil. Mag. and Annals,' N.S. vol. vi. p. 280. 1830. 



+ Montagu's 'Ornithological Dictionary.' 1802. 



