211 
Family CHARADRIIDAH. 
DOTTEREL. LHudromias morinellus (Linneus). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. iv, pl. 
43; Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. vii, pl. 526; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. v, pl. 8; Booth, ‘ Rough Notes,’ 
vol. iii, pl. 14. 
Within the past half century the Dotterel has become 
greatly diminished in numbers as a British bird: nowadays 
visitations of large flocks are unknown. The gunner has 
sensibly contributed to the thinning out of the numbers, 
an easily accomplished feat, seeing that the Dotterel is 
little heedful of danger. So tame—even stupid—is this 
bird that it can be approached on an open field within 
easy gun-shot range, and when assembled into flocks, large 
numbers can be killed with a few shots. Owing to the 
palatable nature of its flesh, as well as to its handaeue 
plumage, it has become a special victim to gun and net. 
Grass-covered fields, stubbles, and rough uncultivated 
commons are its favourite resorts ; 1t also occurs about the 
sand-hills and mud-flats of our coasts. The Dotterel is a 
summer-visitor to Britain, making its appearance about the 
end of April and departing early in September. 
On migration it is distributed on both sides of the 
English coast, though very local in its breeding-resorts. 
It is rare along the weston sea-board of Scotland, including 
the Hebrides, and in Wales and Ireland it is seldom 
obtained. In the latter country, Mr. Ussher mentions 
twelve occurrences which, with the exception of one, took 
place during the autumn migration ‘The following counties 
have been visited :—Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Down, 
Antrim, Londonderry, and Donegal. The most recent 
record is that of a bird obtained on November 30th, 1905, 
