LAPWING. DOTTERE L. 177 



Unfortunately, in Scotland the lapwing was unwittingly an 

 injurer, and is sadly connected with many of the religious 

 struggles which for a time devastated that country. 



When the Covenanters had taken refuge among the heaths 

 and moors of the Highlands to escape the persecutions im- 

 posed upon them, the troopers of Claverhouse and Dalzell 

 were always sure to be directed to their retreat by the loud 

 screams of the lapwing in their neighbourhood. 



Thus, in a strange manner, were the congregations of many 

 a hill -side sacrificed by the cries of the innocent offenders. In 

 requital, a furious exterminating war was waged by the Co- 

 venanters on the lapwing, their descendants never discovering 

 the nest without destroying the eggs or young. To which 

 Leyden has alluded in the following lines : 



" And though the pitying sun withdraws his light, 

 The lapwing's clamorous whoop attends their flight ; 

 Pursues their steps where'er the wanderers go, 

 Till the shrill scream betray them to the foe. 

 Poor bird, where'er the roaming swain intrudes 

 On thy bleak heaths and desert solitudes, 

 He curses still thy scream, and clamorous tongue, 

 And crushes with his foot thy moulting young." 



Indigenous. 



GENUS LXXXVI. CHARADRTUS (SAND PLOVER). 

 SPECIES 168 THE DOTTEREL. 



Charadrius morinellus. Linn. 

 Pluvier guignard. Temm. 



THE DOTTEREL is a species of rare occurrence in Ireland ; and 

 although in one instance twenty were observed in a flock,* 

 and three of the birds were obtained, yet the occurrence of 

 such a number was doubtless owing to the prevalence of con- 

 trary winds whilst the birds were migrating. 



Breeding in haunts similar to the golden plover, the dot- 

 terel, on the approach of winter, collect into small flocks 

 preparatory to their return to the shores from which they 

 had migrated. 



Connected with many fabulous stories, the dotterel has been 

 represented as being so excessively stupid as to imitate every 

 action of the fowler whilst approaching him. Thus, when the 

 arm was held out, instantly a corresponding motion was made 

 by the wing of the dotterel, and if a leg, that instant the 



* Thompson. 



N 



