io8 



of May, the 12th to the 15th being usually 

 considered the best days ; the date however varies 

 with the wind, east-south-east, east and east-north- 

 east being the most favourable quarters. Should 

 the wind continue west or south-west during the 

 whole of May, it is quite possible that hardly a 

 bird will be seen. , When this is the case, their line of 

 flight appears to miss our shores entirely. I have 

 on two or three occasions observed large flocks 

 passing twenty or thirty miles from land ; and some 

 of the fishermen who \vere old gunners have assured 

 me that they have met with all the different species 

 of Waders in continual flights for several days out- 

 side the Dogger-bank, while their usual quarters 

 on the mudbanks were completely deserted. 



The specimens in the case were shot on Brey- 

 don mudflats on May 12th, 1871. 



KNOT. -(WINTER). 

 Case 145. 



During severe weather Knots are often 

 observed on the mudbanks in flocks of several 

 thousands. I have seen them particularly numerous 

 in the harbours on the coast of Sussex and Hamp- 

 shire, also in Norfolk, and as far north as the flat 

 shores of Ross-shire and Sutherland. 



In consequence of their remarkable tameness 

 they are certain to fall victims to the punt-gunners 

 and from one to two hundred are often bagged at 

 one discharge ; as they generally bring in to the 

 fowlers from fourpence to fivepence each, a large 

 flock of Knots is always an acceptable sight. 



The birds in the case were killed at the Little 

 Ferry in Sutherland in March, 1869.* 



* Seventy Knots and twenty-four Godwits, the whole being the result 

 of a single shot, were picked up together with the present specimens ; at 

 least half as many more being swept away by the Mowing tide before 

 those nearest at hand could be gathered up. Considering the fact that 

 the gun was only loaded with 10 oz. of No. 1, it was by no means a bad 

 shot. 



