THE SANDERLING 309 



Knut. It is a trustful, fearless little bird, of about 

 ten inches in length. It has never been known 

 to breed in this country. Its winter plumage is 

 ash-gray above, and the under parts white, with 

 brownish streaks or flecks. In summer the crown 

 and neck are of a reddish-brown, streaked with 

 dark brown ; the back streaked and spotted with 

 black, red, and gray, the feathers edged with 

 white ; the cheeks, throat, and breast of a chestnut 

 colour. 



The sanderling, another of our visitors from 

 autumn to spring, is smaller than the knot, 

 measuring but eight inches in length. The 

 plumage also undergoes a change during moult. 

 In spring the upper parts are rufous and black ; 

 the head, throat, and upper breast rufous, marked 

 with black. In winter gray above, white below ; 

 rump ashy-gray. The visitations of the sanderling 

 are somewhat fitful, and though a visitor from the 

 autumn to the spring, it does not often remain 

 with us throughout the winter. A peculiarity 

 which will readily assist the identification of this 

 bird is that it has no hinder toe. It frequents the 

 low-lying, sandy parts of the coast. 



As I write, I have a specimen of the green 

 sandpiper, which I shot a couple of seasons ago, 

 before me. It may be met with, though it can 

 hardly be described as a common bird, in any of 

 our rivers, except during the months of June and 

 July. It is most plentiful during August. It has, 

 however, never been known to breed in these 



