108 PLUVIALIS MORIXELLUS. 



tory, vol. ii. p. 295: — "In the neighbourhood of Carlisle 

 Dottrels seldom make their appearance before the middle of 

 May, about which time they are occasionally seen in different 

 localities, in flocks which vary in number from five to fifteen, 

 and almost invariably resort to heaths, barren pastures, 

 fallow grounds, &c, in open and exposed situations, where 

 they continue, if unmolested, from ten days to a fortnight, 

 and then retire to the mountains in the vicinity of the lakes 

 to breed. The most favourite breeding haunts of these birds 

 are always near to or on the summits of the highest moun- 

 tains, particularly those that are densely covered with the 

 woolly fringe moss (Trichostomum lanuginosum, Hedw.), 

 which indeed grows more or less profusely on nearly all the 

 most elevated parts of this alpine district. In these lonely 

 places they constantly reside the whole of the breeding 

 season, a considerable part of the time enveloped in clouds, 

 and almost daily drenched with rain or wetting mists, so 

 extremely prevalent in these dreary regions ; and there can 

 be little doubt that it is owing to this peculiar feature in 

 their economy, that they have remained so long in obscurity 

 during the period of incubation. The Dottrel is by no means 

 a solitary bird at this time, as a few pair usually associate 

 together, and live, to all appearance, in the greatest harmony. 

 These birds do not make any nest, but deposit their eggs, 

 which seldom exceed three in number, in a small cavity on 

 dry ground covered with vegetation, and generally near a 

 moderate-sized stone, or fragment of rock. In early seasons 

 old females will occasionally begin to lay their eggs about 

 the 26th of May, but the greater part seldom commence 

 before the first or second week in June. It would appear, 

 however, from the following facts, that they vary exceedingly 

 in this respect. On the 19th of July, 1833, a perfect egg 

 was taken out of a female, which had been recently killed 

 on Robinson ; and on the 26th of May, 1834, I received four 

 Dottrels from Keswick, which had been shot on Great Gavel 

 the day before. In the ovary of one of them I found an egg 

 almost quite ready for exclusion, being a difference of nearly 

 eight weeks. So great a discrepancy in all probability is of 

 very rare occurrence, yet it will subsequently appear that 



