BRITISH BIRDS 



gestures of the fowler, they suffered themselves to be driven into the net ; but this 

 propensity to imitate is probably imaginary, although it is certain the bird runs 

 along with an outstretched wing, which might be supposed to be in imitation of an 

 elevated arm." 



Heysham's account of this bird in the Lake District, published in the Magazine 

 of Natural History, has been often quoted ; he says : " 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 grounds, etc., in open and exposed situations, where they continue, if un- 

 molested, from ten days to a fortnight, and then retire to the mountains in the 

 vicinity 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 

 that are densely covered with the woolly fringe moss {Trichostomum lanuginosum, 

 Hedw.), 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 

 almost daily drenched with rain or wetting mists, so extremely prevalent in those 

 dreary regions ; and there can be little doubt that it is owing to this peculiar feature 

 in their economy, that they have remained so long in obscurity during the period of 

 incubation." 



The female is the larger bird, and is said to be more brightly coloured than 

 her mate. 



THE CASPIAN PLOVER. 



sfcgialitis asiatica (Pallas). 

 Plate 62. 



The first occurrence of this rare species in the British Islands was on May 20th, 

 1890, when two birds were seen in a market garden at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, 

 and later in the day one of these was shot on the denes. Two more were obtained 

 in Sussex, July 13, 191 1. 



During the breeding season this Plover inhabits South-eastern Russia, from 

 where the Volga joins the Caspian Sea eastwards to the Altai mountains, and 

 southwards to the desert lakes of Turkestan and the Amu-Daria. It migrates 

 for the winter to Africa, reaching Cape Colony, and has been recorded in 

 Western India. 



