684 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
come under our personal notice, though the late M. Jules Verreaux 
informed us that he had shot it in Algoa Bay and other places. The 
survivors of the wreck of the “ Strathmore,” who were cast away 
for six months on the Crozet Islands, state that amongst other birds 
they saw several hundred Knots. According to Mr. Andersson, 
this species is of rather rare occurrence on the coast of Damara 
Land; “the few that I observed there were generally associating 
with flocks of Sanderlings, Curlew Sandpipers, and Little Stints, 
along the shallows in Walwich Bay. The Knot feeds on aquatic 
insects, in search of which it will wade knee-deep in the water. Its 
flesh is good eating. One of my specimens has the breast and part 
of the belly rufous.” 
In winter, the plumage is ash-grey above, white beneath; the 
neck and sides streaked with dusky. In summer, the back glossy 
black, variegated with yellowish-red ; the fore-neck and breast, 
yellowish-red. The young: grey above, each feather on the back 
with a double marginal band of black and white. Length, 10’; 
wing, 6” 9"; tail, 2’’ 9’”. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. vii, pl. 544. 
656. CaLIpRIS ARENARIA (Z.). Sanderling. 
The Sanderling is found in large flocks everywhere along our sea- 
board, where sand patches afford it a congenial home and abundance 
of food. Mr. Rickard has met with it both at Port Elizabeth 
and Kast London, though it was not numerous at the latter place. 
Mr. Ayres has found the species in Natal, and writes: “These pretty 
Sandpipers are found on the sea-beach; they are gregarious, and 
run about with great activity when feeding, following the waves as 
they retire, and obtaining their food on the very edge of the water.” 
The following note is given by Mr. Andersson: “The Sanderling 
is very common on the coast of Damara Land, but is only sparingly 
met with inland. It is found in great flocks, and associates with 
the Curlew Sandpiper; but whilst the latter, as it searches for its 
food, hunts and ranges not only along the beach, but at some distance 
from it, the Sanderling, on the contrary, scarcely if ever leaves the 
immediate edge of the water, where it is amusing enough to observe 
it feeding along a beach on which the surf is breaking, now running 
away from the threatening waters, then turning as if by instinct the 
moment they have spent their fury, closely following the receding 
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