570 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



no means invariable, for I have known a flock to be almost 

 unapproachable at this season ; and it may not be out of place 

 to observe here that most of the " full plumaged " specimens 

 observed in May lack the black crown and nape which is 

 characteristic of the nuptial dress. 



The return passage southward takes place in August 

 and September ; in the East Riding an adult female was killed 

 at Kiplingcotes on the 20th of the latter month, 1869 ; the 

 latest date of which I am aware is 29th November 1900, 

 on which day an example occurred on Coatham Marshes 

 during a strong south-east gale. 



The numbers noted in autumn are much fewer than during 

 the vernal passage, and are usually immature, though adults 

 in the dull brown plumage are sometimes erroneously named 

 young birds. The route pursued on the autumnal migration 

 is similar to that followed in spring — either along the coast 

 or across the moors ; in August 1893, while Grouse-driving 

 on Swainby moor, I shot one of two Dotterel which were 

 passing over the butts and whistling as they flew, whilst 

 other examples have been noted on the Whitby moors. In 

 addition to the places named, it is met with occasionally on 

 migration on Penyghent, Pateley moor, near Huddersfield, 

 Sheffield, Wilsden, Wakefield, Keighle}', Halifax, Ripon, and 

 other localities which are too numerous to mention in detail. 



As a breeding species it is extremely rare and local, and 

 in view of the interest attached to this bird in Yorkshire, I 

 propose to quote from an article by the late Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson {Nat. 1890, p. 95), on the former nesting of the 

 Dotterel, which may not be accessible to all my readers. 



Mr. Macpherson prefaced his remarks by stating that, 

 although the late Dr. Heysham of Carlisle examined eggs 

 taken in the north-west of England in 1784, it fell to the 

 lot of the late T. C. Heysham to investigate the question 

 of whether the species really bred south of the Scottish 

 border. He then gave at length two letters relating to 

 Dotterel in Yorkshire, and, as it is upwards of seventy years 

 since they were penned, they are quoted here in extenso : — 



The first letter is that of a John Brown, written in 



