95 



THE DOTTEREL IN YORKSHIRE. 



Rev. H. a. MACPHERSON, M.A., M.B.O.U., Etc., 

 Aittlior of the ' Visitation o/ Pallas's Sand-Grouse to Scotland,' etc. 



Although the late Dr. Heysham examined eggs of the Dotterel 

 {Eudnvnias /norinellus) taken on a mountain in the north-west of 

 England in the year 1784, the fact of their identity was not recorded 

 in print until long after ; and hence, although Dotterel visited the 

 mountains and marshes of the North of England in comparatively 

 large numbers during the early years of the present century, yet the 

 question whether the species really I'red south of the Scottish 

 border was actively canvassed by Yarrell and some of his con- 

 temporary ornithologists. It naturally fell to the lot of tiie late 

 T. C. Heysham, then the most prominent ornithologist in the North 

 of England (for Mr. Hancock was young, and Hewitson had not 

 yet made his reputation), to investigate the question and to solve the 

 mystery that hung round the movements of the Dotterel among the 

 mountains of the North. I do not propose on the present occasion 

 to discuss the question afresh, but only to quote one or two letters 

 relating to Dotterel in Yorkshire, in the belief that even these meagre 

 chronicles of the bird may be of interest to some, since upwards of 

 sixty years have elapsed since they were first penned. 



The first letter is that of a Mr. John Brown, written in answer to 

 Heysham's inquiries, and dated from Marble Mills, Stone House, 

 Dent, July 15th, 1831. It runs thus : — 



'Sir, — I am sorry to say, in reply to your favour of the 12th inst., 

 that your application for eggs of the Dotterel is at least one month 

 too late. The birds have nearly all left the hills. But have you not 

 made a mistake? I think it possible that in the hurry of writing 

 you have said eggs instead of skins. Great numbers of these are 

 preserved and sold to anglers, but I am told that the eggs are seldom 

 taken. If you wish to have a icw skins, pray inform me, and I will 

 send you some. Late in the season as it is for these birds to be on 

 the hills, and it is unusual for them to remain so long, I believe 

 I can yet procure two or three fresh ones.' 



The following year we find Heysham applying to John Robinson 

 of Stone House, Dent, on the i6th of May, but the letter Mas 

 delayed in transit. Robinson replies : — ' I am afraid it will be out 

 of my power to procure you a nest with eggs. There is some dispute 

 whether they breed or not. Some are of opinion they do, others the 

 contrary. I have never yet met with anybody who had found a nest. 

 I called a few days ago on a man who partly makes it his business to 



March 1890. 



