CIIARADRIID^. 305 



and a pair or two still breed ou the most lonely and inaccessible spots in. 

 the Scotch Highlands. " A person of credit " informed Col. Montagu that 

 he had taken the eggs of the Dotterel upon the Mendip. The Colonel 

 adds that young birds used to be shot there early in September (but there 

 is no proof in this that they had been bred there), and was of opinion that 

 the bird whose nest was taken there in the summer was probably a 

 Golden Plover, or, as we rather imagine, a Stone-Curlew. Even as a 

 straggler, the Dotterel is very rare in Devonshire. At the end of September 

 1863, the Rev. Marcus Eickards saw and shot a single Dotterel on the 

 mud-flat at West Appledore, after a long chase, the bird running on in 

 front of him and feigning lameness. On the 22nd of October, 1875, 

 Mr. J. Gatcombe was rewarded, after ascending the Great Hangman Hill, 

 near Combe Martin, by finding a Dotterel upon the top. " On our gaining 

 the summit of this great hill, I at once caught sight of a Dotterel, which 

 almost immediately took wing, uttering a rather low or feeble note, 

 sounding to me something between that of the Purre and Ringed Plover. 

 It did not, however, fly far, but alighted again within a short distance, 

 giving me a good opportunity of examining it with my glass, noting its 

 actions, and making several sketches of its attitudes. It afterwards 

 became very tame, moving slowly about, now and then stopping suddenl}' 

 to look round, listen, or pick up something, and finally allowing my 

 approach to within fifteen yards. It was altogether prettily marked, and 

 the white band above the eye was very conspicuous. The top of Great 

 Hangman has rather a wild aspect, reminding one of Dartmoor, being- 

 covered with stones, heath, and low gorse, and is, I should think, just the 

 place where Dotterels might be found on their first arrival in spring. 

 The view from it is truly magnificent, but the sight of the Dotterel alone, 

 the first I had ever met with in a wild state, far more than repaid me for 

 a rather hot walk of altogether full twenty miles" (Zool. 1875, p. 4717). 



Montagu says of the Dotterel: "It is very rare so far west as Devonsliire ; at least 

 one only has come to our notice in many years" (Orn. Diet., SiippL). Several were 

 seen by the Kev. S. Rowc on Chittaford Down, Dartmoor, in September 1828; many 

 specimens were shot on Dartmoor in April 1840 (E. M., Eowe's Peramb. Dartmoor, 

 p. 231). A pair siiot at Sewer Farm, near tlie Eolt Head, December 22nd, 1851, are 

 in the collection of the late Mr. J. Elliot of Kingsbridge. One was shot by the late 

 Mr. Thos. Floud in the autumn of 18r)2 on Whitstone Hill, near Exeter, and was given 

 to us in the flesh. One was soen in January 1^(17 on Dawlisli Warren by tiie late 

 Major George Woods, and three others have occurred in tliat locality at various times. 

 Two innuature birds were killed on the Exe in August 1870. A trip was seen, and 

 tiiree were shot, at tiie end of May 187'J near Barnstaple (M. A. M., Zool. 187i>, p. 4!)0). 

 Mr. Gatcombe records an example purcliased in J'ly mouth Market, December 12tb, 

 188(5 (Zool. 1887, ]>.'6~'.)). One was |)i(ked up (ju Salcombe road, killed by Hying 

 against the telegrapli wire, in May 18^.') {K. A. S. E.). Mr. llenry JS'icholls has a 

 Bpecimen in suMurn;r plumage from the Sewers, near 15olt Head. 



A few Dotterel have occurred at rare intervals in the immediate neighboui'iiood of 

 Barnstaple, and we iiave received I'rom that t(jwn sjieciMiens both of adults and of 

 immature birds; but more have been observed and obtained in tlio south of the 

 county, about tiie soulliern slopes of Dartmoor. 



The Dotterel is ecpially rare in Cornwall aiul Dorset, while in Somerset 

 it occurs witli no greater frequency than it does in Devonshire. \\c have 



X 



