The Dottrel arrives in this country about the first 
week in April, and retnains near the coast for nearly three 
weeks, thej' then pursue their journey to the Northward. 
On their arrival they are often so lean and emaciated as not 
to be able to secrete themselves from danger, and will suffer 
any one to take thern in the hand ; bat previous to their 
quitting they become quite plump, and are then shy. They 
usually pursue the same route in going and returning, and 
those places that afforded them food on their first arrival are 
generally visited again about the month of October. 
We are informed by Mr. Gough, of Middleshaw, in West- 
morland, that this bird breeds on the neighbouring hills. 
We have been favoured with several eggs from different parts 
of Scotland, said to belong to this bird, but our friends not 
accompanying these with the bird, we are under doubts with 
regard to their identity. 
In the month of November, 1817, a gentleman killed five 
of these birds on Nun-head Hill, Peckham, Surrey : three 
of them were sent to me as Golden Plovers, one was the 
male, and the others, birds of the current year. I was so 
fortunate as to procure the other two, one of which proved 
the female ; in this part of the country Ihey are exceedingly 
rare, and it is the only instance 1 remember of their being 
killed in the neighbourhood. 
It is a dull inactive bird, and if plenty of food is laid in 
its way, the most bungling attempt will hardly fail of in- . 
ticing it into any lure placed for it. 
