Birds of Indiana, 707 



Range. — Sea coasts, throughout the Northern Hemisphere; south 

 in winter to Brazil, New Zealand, Damara Land, Africa and Australia. 

 Breeds in the Arctic Circle. Resident on Gulf coast (Mcllhenny). 

 In migrations, visits the larger inland waters. 



Nest, a depression in the sand. Eggs, light pea-green, closely 

 spotted in brown with small specks about the size of a pin head; 1.10 

 by 1.00. 



Rare migrant. It seems, in the interior, to be almost exclusively 

 found along the great lakes. Mr. Mcllwraith notes it in May and 

 June, in Ontario; Dr. Wheaton noted it in Ohio, and Mr. E. W. Nel- 

 son in Cook County, 111., in May, September, and October. 



Mr. F. M. Woodruff shot a Knot — a beautiful specimen, in the light 

 gray juvenile plumage, with scale-like markings of pure white on the 

 back, — on the shore of Lake Michigan, at Miller's, Ind., August 24, 

 1896. It was in company Math a miscellaneous flock of Sandpipers, 

 August 21, 1897, Mr. Woodruff took three young of the year, two 

 males and one female, at the same place. 



In an article in "The Auk," for January, 1893, p. 25, Mr. Geo. H. 

 Mackay, in speaking of the Knot on the New England coast, says: 

 "It formerly sojourned there in great abundance, but now appears in 

 greatly reduced numbers."' He explains this diminution in numbers 

 is owing to their destruction by the practice of "firelighting," which 

 formerly prevailed, but which is now prohibited by law. 



"The mode of procedure Avas for two men to start out after dark 

 at half-tide, one of them to carry a lighted lantern the other to .reach 

 and seize the birds, twist their necks, and put them in a bag slung over 

 the shoulder. When near a flock, they would approach them on their 

 hands and knees, the birds being almost invariably taken on the 

 flats." They are said to haVe been shipped by the barrel to Boston, 

 as many as six barrels having been observed in one shipment. Mr. 

 MacKay says: "It is not my intention to convey the impression that 

 the Knots are nearly exterminated, but they are much reduced in 

 numbers, and are in great danger of extinction, and comparatively few 

 can be seen in Massachusetts, where formerly there were twenty to 

 twenty-five thousand a year, which I consider a reasonable estimate 

 of its former abundance." 



The extensive range of the Knot is a matter of general information, 

 yet as is often the case, we know much more about many birds with 

 comparatively restricted habitat. During our winter it reaches Aus- 

 tralia, New Zealand, Damara Land, Africa, but in America it has not 

 been reported south of Brazil. Very little is known of its breeding 

 grounds. It has been reported building 'from such far north points 



