DOTTEREL.
CBABADRIUS MORINEL L US.
the British Islands, arriving on
ng on the lonely mountain-tops of s
south coasts
April or early in Hay, nnd nfter rearing its youus ral of the big
ranges in the northern counties, taking its departure from our shores before cold weather has set in. The
Dotterel has of late years cither greatly decreased in numbers or totally disappeared in many localities
where it was formerly abundant ; there are, however, still a few remote districts to which the birds annually
resort on the approach of summer. The nest is by no means difficult to find *, and the small parties of old
birds on their first arrival evince such an utter disregard of their natural enemies, that there is little
wonder that this species, which invariably attracts attention when met with, has been gradually almost exterminated.
Were it not that the remaining haunts arc situated near the hill-tops (in most instances in wild
nnd lonely districts, where their presence is unknown to all, except some wandering keeper or shepherd),
it is probable that the few survivors would long ago have been swept from the British Islands.
On their first arrival from uoross the Channel, Dotterel in former days invariably passed some lime on
the South Downs, within a few miles of the coast, before resuming their journey towards tho north.
Certain open spots along the range of hills (free from furze bushes or other rover) possessed peculiar
attractions, and here at the accustomed date the birds might be looked for to the day, though the downs
for miles on cither side were but seldom visited. Since 1SB7 I have beard of but one or two small
parties ("trips," I believe, is the correct name) being noticed in this locality, though up till that date
they not unfrequcntly rested for a few days during spring on tho ranges of the South Downs.
The last flock of Dotterel that came under my observation was seen passing over the downs near
Brighton early in September 1SS0 ; the birds were flying west, following a course taken by Golden
Plover, Whimhrel, and other Waders at the season of migration. In the Highlands I never noticed
Dotterel later Iban the cud of the first week in September; about the beginning of August they wore
usually met in small parties consisting of from eight or ten individuals to double that number.
On no occasion did I ever recognize this species at a low elevation on tho hills the quarters they
frequent ajqiearing to lie far al»ve the range of the Golden Plover. Their nearest feathered neighbours
arc doubtless the Ptarmigan, though these birds for the most part during summer resort to tho more
rocky portion of tho hill-sido. While making their way from one mountain-top to another, I remarked that
this'species invariably held a course at a considerable elevation across tho intervening glens. Flocks of
Golden Plover, if pursued in stormy weather, often swept down into the mosses in some sheltered
i the Dotterel, whe ed, after llyi ml for mid at last strike boldly oul for