6i8 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



at Flamborough in 1865. It is enumerated in the list of 

 victims killed by striking against the Lighthouse at Spurn. 



Although essentially a coast bird, the Purple Sandpiper 

 has been observed in Ribblesdale on Cam Fell {Nat. 1896, p. 

 46), and at Penistone in November 1891 (W. E. L. Wattam, 

 MS.). 



KNOT. 

 Tringa canutus (L. 



Winter visitant, abundant on the coast, especially in the Tees and 

 Humber estuaries. The majority retire further south as winter 

 approaches ; a return passage observed in April and May; occasionally 

 occurs inland. 



This bird was evidently appreciated as a table delicacy 

 by the Percys, as the first reference to it occurs in the 

 Northumberland Household Book, begun in 1512 : amongst 

 the birds to be provided for " my Lordes owne Mees " appear 

 " Knottes at id." 



Thomas Allis, in 1844, wrote : — 



Tringa canutus. — The Knot — Has been met with near Hebden 

 Bridge, but is rare ; it is rare near Leeds ; H. Denny mentions a pair 

 shot at Killingbeck in 1839 ; A. Strickland says it is met with in small 

 flocks on most of our coasts in autumn and winter, in grey plumage, 

 and occasionally in spring assuming the red dress of breeding br.t 

 never in full dress. 



Needless to remark, Strickland was wrongly informed 

 when he made the foregoing statement that the Knot is never 

 found in this county in full dress ; it regularly occurs in that 

 plumage in May and June, when on passage from its more 

 southerly winter quarters to the nesting grounds within the 

 Arctic Circle, and at Spurn it is quite common at this period, 

 though the late J. Cordeaux was in error in supposing that 

 that district is its northern limit in Yorkshire on the spring 

 migration. (See also Bar-tailed Godwit.) I have for maaiy 

 years known it at Redcar, where migratory flocks may be 

 observed resting on the tidal rocks, and an old fisherman 



