CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 2 1/ 



rather larger than the Golden — -beloncrs to a different 



o o 



genus, a distinguishing characteristic of which is 

 the possession of a hind toe. It is not nearly so 

 plentiful as the Golden Plover, does not congregate 

 in such larofe flocks, and does not breed in our 

 Islands, but somewhere in the region of the Arctic 

 circle. Howard Saunders says: "Though a 

 regular visitant to Ireland, it is less numerous there 

 than in Great Britain, in which again it is more 

 abundant on the east than on the west coast„ 

 becoming decidedly rare in the Outer Hebrides. 



The Dotterel. 



I must, I am afraid, plead ignorance in regard to 

 this species — never having come across it in any of 

 my sporting expeditions. I believe the specimens, 

 in the case were shot about four miles out of South- 

 port by Mr. Hine, who kindly gave them to me in 

 order to make up my case of Plovers. According 

 to Howard Saunders, the Dotterel is principally 

 migratory, although a few pairs have been recorded 

 as nesting in some of the northern counties of 

 Scotland, also the " mountains of the Lake District, 

 where it has long been known to breed, although at 

 the present day its numbers are sadly diminished." 

 Howard Saunders attributes this diminution neither 

 to ornithologists, nor to egg-collectors, but to the 

 demand for the feathers for making artificial flies. 



"It arrives on our south coasts in April, and then 

 would appear to make its way northwards, the most 



