528 THE FEATHERED TRIHES. 



sufficiently near to cfiect our purpose. The moult appears to commence somewhat early 

 iu old birds ; a male, that was killed on the 25th of July, was completely covered with 

 pen-feathers, and the belly, from incubation, almost entirely bare. The stomachs 1 

 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, I 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 higli 

 estimation for dressing artificial flics — it is extremely probable that in a few yours they 

 will become so exceedingly rare, that specimens will be procured with considerable 

 difficulty. I have subjoined the names of some of the principal mountains in this 

 county on which dotterells have been known to breed ; and I have also added, as far as 

 practicable, tlieir elevation above the level of the sea, under the idea that this informa- 

 tion may prove of some utility to naturalists who may, hereafter, feel inclined to 

 investigate the manners of this species 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 Cuniberland. 



Feet above Feet nhove 



the level of th? sea. the level of the sea. 



Hflvcllyii 3,Oo.3 Canock Fell 2,110 



Whiteside Grassm' or 2,756 



Great Dod Kobiiison ./ .. .. 2,292 



AVhatson Dod .. .. Gold Sealp 1,114 



Saddle-back . . . . 2,787 Great Gavel 2,92 J 



Skiddaw 3,022 



Those mountains whose elevations are not given exceed that of Carrock Foil. 



