DOTTEREL. 27 



They are found in the lake neighbourhood, in Westmoreland 

 and Cumberland, on llobinson Fell, Great Gavel, Whiteside, 

 Helvellyn, Whatson Dod, Great Dod, Saddleback, and Skiddaw; 

 also in Northumberland. In Devonshire they are very rare. 

 A pair were shot on the moor near Seaton Carevv, in the 

 county of Durham, May the 10th., 1853; and they have 

 been met with at Scremerston and Unthank, near Berwick. 



In Scotland they occur and breed about Braemar, in 

 Aberdeen shire; also on the Grampian Hills, and in the county 

 of Elgin, Dumfriesshire, and other parts. 



In Ireland they are rare. 



In Orkney they make their appearance in September and 

 October, and again in spring for still more northern regions. 

 A pair bred in Hoy, in 1850. A large flock appeared in South 

 lionaldshay, in May, 1830. 



They frequent open and exposed situations, heaths, barren 

 pastures, sheep walks, new-sown fields, and fallow grounds, on 

 their route to the lonely tops of the mountains on which they 

 breed, and where for the time they dwell among the mists 

 and clouds which so often envelope those lofty districts. 



The Dotterel being only a cursory visitant, migrates to its 

 breeding grounds in spring, staying in places on the way, from 

 March until so late sometimes as the 20th. of May, or even 

 it is said the beginning of June, but generally the latter end 

 of April, and returning again the end of August, or beginning 

 of September; some are even later, staying till October or 

 Xovember, but they are probably late hatched broods, or birds 

 that are on their way back from a further distance north. 

 They move forward in promiscuous bodies, without any 

 particular order. They halt at various stations on the way, 

 both going and coming, in Cambridgeshire and other counties, 

 but it may be that they do not stay in each so long as is 

 supposed, fresh arrivals not being distinguished as such, way 

 having been made for them by others, which had preceded 

 them and have moved on. 



Many of these birds are shot for the sake of the wing 

 feathers, which are in considerable request for making artificial 

 flies. The birds themselves also are very fine eating. They 

 associate in small numbers, living very amicably together, 

 usually to the number of ten or twelve, sometimes more, 

 but in general the members of the family only five or six 

 in all. They are often to be seen sitting on the ground in 

 their summer haunts, and, though usually so devoid of shyness, 



