127 



coarse grass and a few feathers. The eggs, vary- 

 ing from four to six in number, are of a greenish 

 white colour, blotched with dark brown at the 

 larger end. The flight of the Swallow-tailed Kite 

 is singularly beautiful, and its motions astonishingly 

 rapid. It generally feeds while on the wing, making 

 its prey not only of such small insects as grass- 

 hoppers, but also of snakes and frogs. 



KNOT. 



KNUT, RED, OR ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER. 

 TEINQA CANTTTUB, Lin. 



This species arrives from the north in the begin- 

 ning of September, and returns at the end of April 

 or beginning of May. It occurs in flocks on all 

 our shores, and is met with chiefly on sands and 

 the margins of estuaries. It breeds in the northern 

 regions of both Continents, living during summer 

 in the marshes. Its food consists of worms, crus- 

 tacea, insects, &c. The winter plumage differs to 

 a considerable degree in colour from that of the 

 breeding season. In winter, when it is called the 

 Ash-coloured Sandpiper, the plumage is ash grey 

 above, white beneath, and the neck and sides are 

 streaked with dusky lines; while in summer the 

 back is of a glossy black, variegated with yellowish 



