DOTTEREL 171 



very limited numbers, on the high mountains in 

 the county of Tipperary (Thompson, "Nat. Hist. 

 Ireland," vol. ii. p. 94). In that county on the 24th 

 June 1835, a Dotterel was shot by Mr. R Davis on 

 Slievenaman Mountain. In Co. Waterford several 

 have been obtained in August and September on 

 the mountains near Clonmel. 



Although not strictly a shore bird, but an in- 

 habitant of the fells, it is to be met with on the 

 coast during the periods of migration in spring and 

 autumn. It does not, however, stay long there, but 

 goes inland almost immediately, resting on the up- 

 land pastures en route for its nesting haunts above 

 referred to. Cordeaux has given a good account of 

 the visits of small flocks or "trips" to the marshes 

 of North Lincolnshire, where formerly they arrived 

 with great regularity in May, but were not seen 

 there at any other time of year (Zool., 1866, p. 294). 

 When feeding these birds have a habit of elevating 

 their wings over the back, thus frequently betraying 

 their position to the gunner when otherwise they 

 might probably escape detection. When on the 

 wing they fly closely together, and constantly repeat 

 their wild and musical call -note, which somewhat 

 resembles that of the Ringed Plover. It is said 

 that the hen birds are larger and more brightly 

 coloured than the males ; but see Jenyns (" Observ. 

 Nat. Hist.," p. 178), with whom I agree. 



In May 1870, as noted in Field, December 17 

 1870, I found in the stomach of a single Dotterel no 

 less than sixty-three wireworms and two beetles. 



