294 The Zoologist — July, IS66. 



marshes. I have before remarked in the * Zoologist' that whimbrels 

 visit this neighbourhood in much larger numbers during their northern 

 vernal migration than when returning southward in the autumn. At 

 this latter season they probably pass over this district without alighting, 

 as in August and September they may frequently be observed in small 

 parties, numbering eigi)t or ten birds, very rarely exceeding these 

 numbers, and never in large flocks, passing over the village and 

 proceeding in a south or south-westerly direction : they then 

 invariably fly at a great height, and keep constantly repeating their 

 peculiar call-note, without wjiich it would be impossible to identify 

 them. 



Dolicrell. — In years gone by the month of May, in the North 

 Lincolnshire marshes, was invariably marked by the advent of flocks 

 of dotterell. From some cause or other, however, their numbers have 

 gradually decreased, and previous to this spring four or five years have 

 elapsed without my seeing even a single bird of this once well-known 

 species in our marshes : this year they have retiu-ned to their old 

 haunts. On the 2nd of May 1 observed two, a male and female, on 

 the grass lands; they were exceedingly tame, peruiittiug a very near 

 a}>{n-oach, not even taking flight when I stood to have a look at them. 

 On the 9th, in the same neighbourhood, I saw a flock often. On the 

 lith another flock, numbering fifteen, and on the 16th one containing 

 nine birds. Dotterell are never seen in this district at any period 

 except the month of May, and formerly they arrived with great 

 regularity during the first week in this month, tarrying awhile amidst 

 the solitudes of our marsh -land preparatory to resuming their journey 

 northwards. All the flocks of these birds seen by me this year were 

 exceedingly tame, and, had I been so inclined, could readily have 

 walked up within shot, I'his indifference to the approach of man may 

 possibly, in a great measure, account for their gradual decreasing 

 numbers. Perhaps some reader of the 'Zoologist' will kindly inform 

 me if dotterell are still met with in any numbers in other parts of 

 England ? I find they are seldom mentioned in the ' Zoologist.' 

 When feeding, these birds have a habit of elevating their wings over 

 their back, and they will thus frequently betray their ])osition to the 

 gunner, when otherwise they might probably have escaped detection. 

 Both the gray and golden plover have the same peculiarity. Dotterell, 

 when on the wing, fly very closely together, and keep constantly 

 repeating their wild and musical call-note, which somewhat resembles 

 the cry of the ringed dotterell. 



