116 DOTTEREL. 



during that season, seems not to be satisfactorily known, but it is probably far to the 

 south. Yarrell says that some few winter in the south of Italy, Sicily, and the Levant. 

 They breed in all the northern countries of Europe and Asia; in France, they are only 

 passing visitors going to the north in the spring, and returning south in the autumn. 



The Dotterel is greatly esteemed by epicures for the delicacy of its flesh, and meets a 

 ready sale whenever it is brought into the market. 



The habits of the Dotterel lead them to select the higher parts of the most lofty 

 mountains for the purpose of incubation; and Mr. St. John says that only a single pair 

 will be found breeding on each hill. Mr. Heysham, of Carlisle, states that they chiefly 

 select those hills that are covered with the woolly fringe moss, ( Trichostomum lanuginosum, 

 Hedw:) This gentleman has had good opportunities of studying the habits of these birds, 

 and has written at some length upon them. His observations show that, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Carlisle, they are by no means solitary in their disposition in the breeding- 

 season, but that several pairs associate together in the greatest harmony at these times. 

 They appear to be very careless of the approach of man. Mr. Heysham says, "On the 

 3rd. of July we found three or four pairs near the most elevated part of this mountain, 

 (Robinson;) 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 

 showing any symptoms of alarm; and frequently afterwards, when within a few paces, 

 watching their movements, some would move slowly about and pick up an insect, others 

 would remain motionless, now and then stretching out their wings, and a few would 

 occasionally toy with each other, at the same time uttering a few low notes, which had 

 some resemblance to those of the Common Linnet. In short, they appeared to be so 

 very indifferent with regard to our presence, that at last my assistant could not avoid 

 exclaiming, "what stupid birds these are!" The female that had young, nevertheless, 

 evinced considerable anxiety for their safety, whenever we came near the place where they 

 were concealed, and as long as we remained in the vicinity, constantly flew to and fro 

 above us, uttering her note of alarm." "One, on quitting them, (the eggs,) immediately 

 spread out its wings and tail, which it trailed on the ground a short distance, and then 

 went away without uttering a single note." Mr. H. says that they vary much in the 

 time of commencing incubation, old females sometimes beginning to lay as early as the 

 26th. of May; while a perfect egg has been taken out of a female, shot on Eobinson, as 

 late as July 19th. The middle of June is however the most usual time. 



The Dotterel is very fond of dusting itself, and will frequently do this even while a 

 spectator is within a few yards of it. 



The singular tameness, or stupidity as it has been called, of the Dotterel in the 

 presence of man, and its habit of stretching out a leg, or wing, probably led to the 



