294 
CHARADRIIDiE. 
breeding-places 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 ), 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 these 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 season of incubation. The 
Dotterel is by no means a solitary bird at this time, as 
a few pairs usually associate together, and live, to all 
appearance, in the greatest harmony. 
“ These birds do not make any nest, but deposit their 
eggs, which seldom exceed three in number, in a small 
cavity on dry ground, covered with vegetation, and gene¬ 
rally near a moderate-sized stone or fragment of rock. 
In early seasons old females will occasionally begin to 
lay their eggs about the 26th of May; but the greater 
part seldom commence before the first or second week 
in June. It would appear, however, from the following 
facts, that they vary exceedingly in this respect. On the 
19th of July, 1833, a perfect egg was taken out of a 
female, which had been recently killed, on Robinson 
Fell; and on the 26th of May, 1834, I received four 
Dotterels from Keswick, which had been shot on Great 
Gavel the day before. In the ovary of one of them 
I found an egg almost quite ready for exclusion, being 
a difference of nearly eight weeks. 
“The males assist the females in the incubation of 
their eggs. Anxious as I have been for several years 
