DOTTREL. 



137 



DIVING-PIGEON.— A name for the Guillemot. 

 DOBCHICK. — A name for the Dabchick. 



DOOR-HAWK and DORRHAWK.— Names for the Night-jar. 



DOTTREL (Charadrius morinellus, Linnaeus.) 



Charadrius Morinellus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 254. 5 — Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 686.— Ind. 



Orn. 2. p. 746. 17 Raii, Syn. p. 111. A. 4.— Will. p. 230. t. 55. 57.— Briss. 5. 



p. 54. 5. t. 4. f. 2. & p. 58. 6 lb. 8vo. 2. p. 225, and p. 126.— 7'emm. 2. p. 537. 



— Petit Pluvier, ou le Guignard, Buff. 8. p. 87 Dottrel, Br. Zool. 2. No. 210. 



t. 73.— Ib. fol. 129. t. D Arct. Zool. 2. p. 487. A — Will. (Angl.) p . < S 09. 



—Albin, 2. t. 62 & 63.— Lath. Syn. 5. p. 208. 14 — Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 16. 



—Wale. Syn. 2. t. 162 Lewin's Br. Birds, 5. t. 186.— Don. Br. Birds, 2. t. 



42 Flem. Br. Anim. p. 113. 



This species of plover weighs about four ounces, sometimes five ; 

 length near ten inches. The bill is an inch long, dusky ; irides hazel ; 

 the crown of the head black ; forehead dusky and grey, mixed ; a broad 

 stroke of white from above the eye passes to the hind-head ; cheeks 

 and throat white ; the neck of a cinereous olive ; back and coverts of 

 the wings olive-brown, each feather marginated with pale ferruginous ; 

 the breast is of a pale dull orange, on the upper part of which is a 

 transverse line of white, bordered above with a narrow one of black ; 

 belly black ; vent and thighs rufous white ; the quills dusky -brown ; 

 the shaft and outer web of the feather white ; the tail consists of twelve 

 feathers of an olive-brown, barred near the end with black, tipped with 

 white ; legs dusky. 



The female has the crown of the head brown, mottled with white, 

 and the white line over the eye less conspicuous ; the belly is mixed 

 black and white ; the white line on the breast is wanting : and the 

 colours in general more dull. 



Young birds have the whole under parts of the body of a very pale 

 ferruginous brown. 



The Dottrel appears to make this country a resting-place in its migra- 

 tory nights to and from its breeding-place. It is seen on some of our 

 downs, heaths, and moors, from April to the beginning of June, and 

 returning again in September, remains till November. 



On the Wiltshire downs it resorts to the new sown corn, or fallow 

 ground, for the sake of the worms, its principal food. They fly in 

 families of five or six in the autumn, which we have observed to be the 

 two old birds and their young ; but sometimes a dozen or more flock 

 together. It is a stupid bird and easily shot ; when disturbed, it will 

 frequently extend one wing, and it seldom flies to any distance. It 

 doubtless goes northward to breed ; but we do not find any one who 

 mentions the nest or eggs. We once saw them in pairs on the moun- 

 tains of Scotland, sufficiently late for breeding. 



