I30 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Terek Sandpiper. Tcrekia dnerea (Gulden.). 



The Terek Sandpiper breeds in north-eastern Europe and 

 Siberia, and in winter is known in Africa, Southern Asia, and 

 Australia. The bird was added to the British list in 191 2, 

 when four were recorded for Kent ; in 191 5 three were obtained 

 in Sussex. All were killed in May, and apparently passed 

 through the same hands. It is a grey-backed bird with dark 

 markings on the back and streaks on the head ; the under 

 parts are white with dusky mottles on the flanks and breast. 

 The long, greenish-black bill is recurved towards the tip ; the 

 legs are yellowish green, the irides blackish grey (Dresser). 

 Length, 9 ins. Wing, 5 ins. Tarsus, i in. 



Knot. Canutus ca?mfus (Linn.). 



Countless hordes of Knots visit the British Isles on passage, 

 and very large numbers remain to winter, but it was not until 

 1S76 that any breeding-place was discovered, and only within 

 more recent years that we have gained light— still imperfect — 

 of the full range and nesting habits. The Knot (Plate 53) has 

 apparently a circumpolar breeding range, but all the known 

 haunts are far north of the Arctic circle in Greenland, Grinnell 

 Land, Alaska, the Taimyr, and New Siberian Islands. Its 

 winter wanderings take it to South Africa, Australia, New 

 Zealand, and Patagonia. 



In Britain the haunts of the gregarious Knot are the sea- 

 shores where there are wide stretches of sand or tidal mud ; 

 in favoured localities its numbers are large in winter, immense 

 during migration, and a fair number of non-breeding birds 

 remain all summer. Amongst the crowds of waders which 

 feed on the flats the Knot may be singled out by its intermediate 

 size, considerably larger than the Dunlin and Sanderling, 

 shorter in leg than the Redshank, and small beside the tall 



