Dorrerenr. GRALLATORES. CHARADRIUS. 237 
logical Dictionary, after stating the probability of the fact, 
observes, that he once saw Dotterels in Scotland sufficiently 
late to induce him to entertain such an idea, and further 
adds, that Col. THornton informed him of his having seen 
Dotterels in pairs upon the Grampian Hills; but, unfortu- 
nately, in neither of these cases is the precise time of year 
mentioned. Dr Friemrne, in his History of British Animals, 
cites a passage from the Statistical Account of the parish of 
Carmylie, in favour of the above supposition ; but the para- 
graph is too generally worded to establish as a fuct, the re- 
sidence and breeding of these birds upon the Grampian 
Mountains. In Northumberland (where considerable flocks 
annually appear in certain haunts near the coast in the month 
of May, and where their visit seldom extends beyond a week 
or ten days), I have, during summer, examined all the up- 
land moors, and the range of the Cheviot Hills, these being 
the situations to which they would naturally retire, if any 
remained, to breed, but always without success ; nor did the 
bird appear to be known to the shepherds or other inhabi- 
tants of these districts. ‘The same may be said of the moors 
of Cumberland, and the south-western parts. of Scotland, 
where, indeed, it is of very rare occurrence, even during its pe- 
riodical flight ; the line of migration of the passing bodies that 
visit us in spring being along the eastern coasts of the island. 
I may also add, that in various excursions to the Highlands 
of Scotland, I never met with the Dotterel in the summer or 
breeding season, though its congener the Golden Plover was 
frequently seen; nor has any instance occurred of the nest, 
egos, or immature young of this bird having been yet found. 
It is seen, on its return from its breeding quarters, in parti- 
cular haunts during the months of September and October, 
generally in families of five or six together, being the old 
birds and their brood ; occasionally, however, earlier appear- 
ance may happen, as in the case of the bird mentioned by 
Col. Tuornton in his Sporting Tour, which he killed in 
Scotland on the 16th of August ; and a Dotterel, apparently 
5 
