THE STILT-WALKERS. 19 



THE DOTTED PLOVER, OR DOTTEREL, 



The Dotted Plover, or Dotterel {Eudromias Morinellus), has a garb well suited to the rocky 

 haunts that it frequents. The feathers on the upper parts of the body are of a blackish shade, edged 

 with rust-red ; the grey head is separated from the rust-red breast by a narrow white and a black line ; 

 the lower breast is black in its centre, and the belly white ; a broad light stripe passes over the eyes to 

 the nape. The eye is dark brown, the beak black, and the foot greenish yellow. In autumn the 

 upper portions of the body are deep grey, the feathers on the crown of the head black and rust- 

 yellow, and the stripe over the eyes pale rust-yellow ; the upper breast is grey and the rest of the 

 under side white. The female resembles her mate, but is less beautifully coloured. This species is 

 from eight inches and three-quarters to nine inches long, and eighteen broad ; the wing measures five 

 inches and three-quarters ; and the tail two inches and three-quarters. The Dotterels inhabit the 

 mountainous tracts of the northern portions of the globe, and are occasionally seen at an altitude of 

 ten thousand feet above the level of the sea. During the winter they wander south ; rarely, however, 

 going beyond the countries bordering the Mediterranean. These migrations take place in August, 

 and are carried on in flocks, which travel both by day and night. The homeward journey is not 

 commenced earlier than April. The Dotterel visits Great Britain during the summer, appearing first in 

 the south-eastern part of England. It seldom goes far west, but takes a northern course, and always 

 inhabits high ground. Mr. Heysham, of Carlisle, gives the following account of the habits of this 

 bird, drawn from his own observation : — ■ 



" 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 five to fifteen, and almost invariably resort to heaths, barren pastures, fallow lands, 

 &c., in open and exposed situations, where they continue, if unmolested, from ten days to a 

 fortnight, and then retire to the mountains and the vicinity of lakes to incubate. The most favourite 

 breeding haunts of these birds are always near to, or on the summits of, the highest mountains, 

 particularly those that are densely covered with the woolly fringe-moss (Tricostomum lanugitwsum), 

 which, indeed, grows more or less profusely on nearly all the most elevated parts of this alpine 

 district. In these lonely places they constantly reside the whole of the breeding season, a 

 considerable part of the time enveloped in clouds, and daily soaked with rain or the drenching 

 mist so extremely prevalent in these dreary regions. The Dotterel is by no means a solitary bird 

 at this time, as a few pairs usually associate together, and live to all appearance in the greatest 

 harmony. These birds do not make any nest, but deposit their eggs, which seldom exceed 

 three in number, in a cavity on dry ground covered with vegetation, and generally near a moderate- 

 sized stone or fragment of rock. In early seasons old females will occasionally lay their eggs about 

 the 26th of May, but the greater part seldom commence before the first or second week in June ; 

 they appear, however, to vary greatly in this respect. The male assists in the incubation of the young. 



" A week previous to their departure," continues the 6ame observer, " they congregate in flocks, 

 and continue together until they finally leave this country, which is sometimes during the latter 

 part of August, at others not before the beginning of September. A few birds are, no doubt, 

 occasionally seen after this period, but they are either late broods, or birds that are returning from 

 more northern latitudes." 



With regard to their manners, Mr. Heysham says : — " On the 3rd of July we found two or three 

 pairs near the most elevated portion of this mountain ; and on all our visits thither, whether early 

 in the morning or late in the afternoon, the greater part were always seen near the same place, sitting 

 on the ground. When first discovered, they permitted us to approach within a short distance without 



