Observations on the Dottrel. 303 



ever We came near the place where they were concealed, and 

 as long as we remained in the vicinity, constantly flew to and 

 fro above us, uttering her note of alarm. 



As soon as the young birds were fully feathered, two were 

 killed for the purpose of examining their plumage in this state; 

 and we found that after they had been fired at once or twice, 

 they became more wary, and eventually we had some little 

 difficulty in approaching sufficiently near to effect our pur- 

 pose. The moult appears to commence somewhat early in 

 old birds ; a male that was killed on the 25th of July, was 

 completely covered with pen feathers, and the belly, from in- 

 cubation, almost entirely bare. The stomachs I dissected were 

 all filled with the elytra and remains of small coleopterous 

 insects, which in all probability constitute their principal food 

 during the breeding season. 



These birds T understand are getting every year more and 

 more scarce in the neighbourhood of the lakes ; and from the 

 numbers that are annually killed by the anglers at Keswick 

 and the vicinity, (their feathers having long been held in high 

 estimation for dressing artificial flies), it is extremely proba- 

 ble that in a few years they will become so exceedingly rare, 

 that specimens will be procured with considerable difficulty. 

 I have subjoined the names of some of the principal moun- 

 tains in this county, on which dottrels have been known to 

 breed, and I have also added, as far as practicable, their ele- 

 vation above the level of the sea, under the idea that this in- 

 formation may prove of some utility to naturalists who may 

 hereafter feel inclined to investigate the manners of this spe- 

 cies in the same district. The relative positions of these 

 mountains may be seen at a single glance, on referring to 

 Greenwood's excellent Map of the county of Cumberland. 



Helvellyn, 3055^ 



Whiteside, 



Whatson Dod, 



Great Dod, 



Saddleback, 2787 



Skiddaw, 3022 ^Feet above the level of the sea * 



Carrock Fell, .2110 



Grasmoor, 2756 



Robinson, 2292 



Gold Scalp, 1114 



Great Gavel, 2925^ 



Before I conclude this paper I will briefly describe and al- 

 so offer a few observations on the eggs found on Whiteside 



* Carrock Fell, I have reason to believe, is the lowest of these mountains, 

 consequently all those whose elevation is not given, will exceed 21 10 feet 

 in height. 



