The Oologisis' Record, March I, 1923. 



On reaching the summit we found an " annexe " as it were to 

 the plateau — an expanse of tussocky moss of the most exquisite 

 golden-yellow colour, and almost as soon as we got over the last 

 ridge another Dotterel " sprang " about forty yards ahead of us. 

 She flew very heavily, her tail spread a little and her feet hanging 

 down. Again we walked straight to the spot, to find two eggs, 

 the most strikingly beautiful that I have ever seen or ever hope 

 to see. Again the nest was nothing but a very deep hollow scraped 

 in the golden moss with no other protection or preparation. It 

 was so bitterly cold here that we did not wait for the bird's return, 

 but on looking at my watch I found that it was 10.25. 



At the extreme south-eastern end of the plateau, and what was 

 probabty its highest point, we came across a solitary Dotterel 

 feeding with some half-dozen Golden Plovers. On our close approach 

 the Golden Plover took to wing, leaving the Dotterel behind, and 

 she looked so extraordinarily conscious that we determined to 

 watch her. In less than ten minutes, b^' a series of rapid runs, 

 she had reached a stretch of bare ground which had all along held 

 my eye, and in another two she was on her eggs ' Both of us were 

 in full view — conspicuously so — and she sat down not twenty yards 

 from us. 



This nest was on a barish ridge on the edge of a patch of yellow 

 sand, but the sitting bird was remarkably difficult to see. On 

 rising to go to the nest I noticed that she sat quite still for about 

 45 seconds. She then ran into a little hollow beyond where she 

 remained feeding unconcernedly. 



About 1 o'clock we turned back again, having explored the whole 

 area to the east and south without seeing another Dotterel. On 

 reaching the " golden moss " area, I saw that the second bird of 

 the day was sitting. She was comparatively easy to see (of course 

 we knew exactly where to look for her), notwithstanding that the 

 nest was so deep, and only ran off when we were within a foot of 

 her. To my astonishment and delight she now had three eggs — 

 a really perfect set — so that to have established within an hour or 

 so the actual time of laying was very gratifying. 



The first Dotterel of the day was also sitting when we visited 

 her fifteen minutes later, but when disturbed she only ran a few 

 paces — she still had onh' two eggs, and, literally', whilst we stood 

 there, she came back and nestled on them ! 



We had no further opportunity of visiting the high hills again. 



