248 



THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



Island. Mr. Kerry observes that round Harwich " it has been rather rare of late 

 years. One was shot there, however, on Nov. 12th, 1888 ; another on Dec. 

 9th, 1889. Yarrell says (14. ii. 665) that various authorities speak of its occur- 

 rence in winter on the coast of Essex and other counties. 



Knot: Tringa canutus. Locally, "Male" or "Marie" {rede 

 Merle) ; " Red-Sandpiper." 



A common winter visitor to our coast, often appearing in August 

 and remaining till spring. At migration time, specimens are occasion- 

 ally met with 

 1^ f\ /^\ inland. 



Of the "Red 

 Sandpiper," which 

 seems to be this 

 bird in summer 

 plumage, Mr. Par- 

 sons makes fre- 

 quent mention 

 (22). He speaks 

 of meeting with 

 them on and near 

 the shore during 

 winter, though his 

 notes do not give 

 any indication of 

 the dates of their 

 arrival and depar- 

 ture, except that he 

 often met with 

 them during 

 August. On June 

 6th, 1839, he saw "one in perfect winter dress, but the new stumps just 

 appearing." He occasionally met with them in open fields a little way inland, 

 sitting in a very dense flock. Pennant, who also calls it the "Red Sandpiper," 

 says (ii. 394) : " Birds of this species have appeared in great flocks on the coast 

 of Essex, on the estate of Col. Schutz." Mr. Bond (23. 40) met with it commonly 

 at Southend early in Sept., 1842. Mr. Clarke speaks of it (24) as " now and then 

 a straggler " to the Walden district, while around Sudbury, King described it (20) 

 in 1838, ns "not uncommon." Round Harwich it is very common during the 

 period of autumn migration, but is never seen there on the return journey in 

 spring (Kerry). Mr. Hope observes that they are very common in vast flocks on 

 our coasts during the winter, generally arriving about Sept. 24th, and going north 

 in May. Newman records (23. 31 16) a pure white specimen shot at Maldon on 

 Feb. 13th, 1851. It is now in the collection of Mr. F. Bond (37. iii. 418). The 

 largest bag of these birds I ever heard of was made by Mr. John Basham, jun., of 

 Maldon, who informs me that, some 20 or 30 years ago, he and another gunner 

 fired jointly at a flock resting on the mud-flats near Bradwell Chapel, and his 

 companion's gun missing fire, he bagged to his own gun no less than tiine dozen^ 

 which they sold at 4s. per dozen, sharing the proceeds. 



K-N'OTS, in suinmef, '%. 



