DOTTEREL. 179 



to bathe, and soon after it runs into the neighbouring fields, 

 where it remains for the night, and by the morning it returns 

 to its before mentioned haunts on the dry land, to recom- 

 mence its search for food in the usual manner. 



The reproduction of the species takes place in many parts 

 of Europe ; especially the habits of the Dotterel are well 

 known during the breeding season to the shepherds that watch 

 their sheep on the mountains, and it is a remarkable fact 

 that the numbers of this species have not only very much 

 decreased in England, but equally so on the mountains 

 and hills in Germany ; with us the reason assigned, is, that 

 the Dotterel is constantly pursued, by sportsmen, who are 

 very anxious to obtain its plumage for the purpose of making 

 artificial flies for fishing : other causes probably exist, that 

 are difficult to ascertain. 



The nest of the Dotterel is a mere hollow, scratched in 

 the surface of the ground, and. in it a few mosses and 

 lichens are carelessly placed. 



The eggs, which vary from three to four in number, are 

 not easily obtained in this country ; their texture is dull. 

 The bird sits very close, and remains till danger approaches 

 it, nearly to touching, and then it runs or flutters off for 

 a distance, never exceeding twenty or thirty paces, where 

 it awaits the result. On leaving the nest it utters the 

 same shrill but soft notes as the lark. The male and female 

 incubate the eggs by turns, which a friend of ours has 

 proved by killing the sitting bird on the nest, which was 

 ascertained to be a male. The chief of the young broods 

 are running about by the end of June, although some 

 sitting birds have been found in the middle of July ; the 

 young leave the nest as soon as they are hatched, and the 

 parent birds are apparently very much attached to them. 



The Dotterel measures nine inches and a half; its beak 



