THE DOTTEREL. 



385 



the net." Such, at least, was the common belief; and 

 Pennant alludes to it, quoting the following passage from 

 the poet Drayton : — 



" Most worthy man, with thee 'tis ever thus, 

 As men take Dottrels, so hast thou ta'en us : 

 "Which, as a man his arme or leg cloth set, 

 So this fond bird will likewise counterfeit." 



THE DOTTEREL. 



In Pennant's time, Dotterels were not uncommon in Cam- 

 bridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire, appearing in 

 small flocks of eight or ten only, from the latter end of 

 April to the middle of June ; and I have been informed 

 by a gentleman in Norfolk that, not many years since, 

 they annually resorted also, in small flocks, to the plains 

 of that county. Of late years, owing most probably to 

 their being much sought after for the table, they have 

 become rare ; and the same thing has taken place in 

 France. 



c 



