CXLIII. 

 CHARADRIUS MORINELLUS, (Linn.) 



Dotterel. 



It had long been supposed that the Dotterel must breed 

 in some of the higher districts of Cumberland, although, 

 from the difficulties which present themselves to the rambler 

 on those glorious mountains, enveloped as they are, for the 

 greater part of the year, in a dense mist, the eggs remained 

 undetected until the summer of 1835, when they were first 

 discovered through the assiduity of Mr. Heysham, whose 

 account I copy from the Magazine of Zoology and Botany : — 

 " In the neighbourhood of Carlisle, Dotterels seldom make 

 their appearance before the middle of May, about which time 

 they are occasionally seen, in different localities, in flocks, 

 which vary in number from four to fifteen, and almost inva- 

 raiably resort to heaths, barren pastures, fallow ground, &c. in 

 open and exposed situations, where they continue, if unmo- 

 lested, from ten days to a fortnight, and then retire to the 

 mountains in the vicmity of the lakes, to breed. 



" The most favourite breeding haunts of these birds are 

 always near to or on the summits of the highest mountains, 

 particularly those wliicli are densely covered with the woolly 

 fringe moss (Trichostomum lanuginosum). 



" In these lonely places they constantly reside nearly the 

 whole of the breeding season, a considerable part of the time 

 enveloped in clouds, and almost daily drenched with rain, or 

 the wetting mists, so extremely prevalent in these dreary 

 regions ; and there can be little doubt that it is owing, in a 

 great measure, to this peculiar feature in their economy, that 

 they have remained so long in obscurity during the period 

 of incubation. 



" After repeated excursions through the lake districts foi: 



