202 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



the mountain ranges of England and Scotland this species is 

 known to incubate. In 1835 Mr. Heysham first discovered 

 these birds breeding in England ; he says : " In the neigh- 

 bourhood of Carlisle, Dotterels seldom make their appear- 

 ance before the middle of May, about which time they are 

 seen in different localities, in flocks which vary in number 

 from five to fifteen, and almost invariably resort to heaths, 

 barren pastures, fallow grounds, etc., 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- 

 places 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 lanu- 

 ginosum), which indeed grows more or less profusely 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 en- 

 veloped in clouds, and almost daily drenched with rain or 

 wetting mists, so extremely prevalent in these dreary re- 

 gions ; 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 season of incubation/' 



