394 CHARADRIID.E. 



to the habits and economy of this bird. In tlie nciaflibour- 

 hood of Carlisle, Dottrels seldom make tlieir appearance be- 

 fore the middle of May, about which time they are occa- 

 sionally 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 mountains, particularly those that are 

 densely covered with the woolly fringe-moss, Trichostomum 

 lanuginosum, Hedw. which indeed grows more or less pro- 

 fusely 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 pairs 

 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 sel- 

 dom 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, 



* " The favourite breeding-stations of the Dottrel are frequently called smitlle- 

 places, by some of the guides and anglers at Keswick." 



