84 
J. E. LITTLEBOY—NOTES ON BIRDS 
4. The Dotterel (Eudromias Morinellus'). —Oh the 28th and 
29th of August two large flocks of dotterels are reported by Mr. 
Percy P. Fordham as having been observed on Boyston Heath ; 
and on September 24th a single specimen, believed to be a bird 
of the year, was shot in turnips near Weston Manor, Stevenage, 
by Mr. Marlborough B. Pryor. 
The dotterel is a spring and autumn migrant. It is said to nest 
occasionally in Scotland and the north of England, but its natural 
home is on the grassy hills and open prairies of northern Europe, 
and it visits our shores for a short period only during its northern 
and southern migration to and from those localities. Belonging to 
the family of Plovers, the dotterel, like some others of its tribe, has 
a habit of stretching out its wings alternately. Erom this action, 
and the fact that it allows the approach of man with but little 
apparent fear, it has gained its designation Morinellus , or “ little 
fool.” In olden times it was frequently the victim of falconry, 
and it is stated* that the 10th of May was specially devoted to 
that sport, and was known on the borders of Hertfordshire and 
Cambridgeshire as ‘‘Dotterel’s day.” It is interesting to notice 
that dotterels are still observed in the same district in which they 
are reported as beiDg abundant during the reign of James the First. 
The dates on which the arrival and departure of our summer 
migrants and other visitants have been reported, together with the 
names of the observers, will be found in the following tables :— 
Species. 
Nightingale 
{Paulias Luscinia) 
Redstart. 
(Ruticilla Phocnicurus) 
Chifpchape . 
{Phylloscopus collyhita) 
Willow Wren. 
{Phylloscopus Trochilus) 
Summer Migrants. 
Locality. 
Royston. 
Hitchin. 
Hertford . 
Hailey Hall. 
Odsey Grange 
Elstree. 
Harpenden . 
Royston. 
)> . ••• 
Berkhamsted... ... 
Watford. . 
Fanhams Hall 
Hitchin. 
Royston. 
Hitchin. 
Royston. 
Hunton Bridge ... 
Odsey Grange 
Hitchin. 
5 > ••• . 
Hunton Bridge ... 
King’s Langley ... 
Watford.. 
Odsey Grange 
Date. Observer. 
April 14 
G. W. Howard. 
y y 
18 
W. Hill. jun. 
y y 
18 
R. T. Andrews. 
y y 
18 
H. C. Heard. 
18 
H. G.Fordham. 
yy 
18 
E.P.Thompson. 
y y 
19 
John J. Willis. 
y y 
20 
A. Kingston. 
y y 
21 
P. F. Fordham. 
y y 
22 
Herts N.H.S. 
yy 
22 
J. Hopkinson. 
26 
R. B. Croft. 
May 
3 
Hitchin Nat. 
Hist. Cluh. 
10 
P. F. Fordham. 
April 
4 
W. Hill, jun. 
yy 
16 
P. F. Fordham. 
23 
J. E. L. 
30 
H. G. Fordham. 
4 
Hitchin H.N.O. 
yy 
8 
W. Hill, jun. 
y y 
21 
J. E. L. 
y y 
22 
J. E. L. 
y y 
22 
J. Hopkinson. 
yy 
29 
H. G. Fordham. 
* Hone’s ‘Everyday Book,’ 1826, p. 645. 
