io6 



WHEATEAR (AUTUMN). 

 Case 141. 



This is the plumage in which the Wheatear is 

 seen just previous to its departure. 



For a month or six weeks in the autumn, 

 during the migration, they are very numerous 

 along the range of the South Downs and on the 

 marshes adjoining the coast. 



The shepherds in the neighbourhood of 

 Brighton used in days gone by to catch thousands 

 of these birds in horse-hair nooses on the sheep 

 walks ; at the present time however there appear 

 to be but few traps ever set, the nets of the 

 bird-catcherstaking sufficient to supply the market. 



The specimens were obtained near Brighton in 

 August, 1874. 



KNOT. (SUMMER). 

 Case 142. 



The number of Knots that visit our shores 

 during summer appears to have fallen off greatly of 

 late years. This I can in no way account for, as 

 as they seem fully as plentiful as formerly at other 

 seasons. 



Immense flocks formerly showed themselves 

 on the mudbanks on our southern and eastern 

 coast during May, remaining only for a tide or two 

 to rest and then resuming their journey to their 

 breeding-grounds in the unexplored regions of the 

 far north. 



At the present time however a few straggling 

 parties of at most a dozen or twenty birds are all 

 that are usually observed ; and in the spring of 

 1871 but half a dozen full-plumaged Knots were 

 seen on Breydon mudflats between the 5th of May 

 and the 6th of June. 



