IIQ 



peckers and from its somewhat similar habits is 

 known by that name in some districts. 



It has a curious custom of plastering with mud 

 the apertures to the holes in the trees where it 

 breeds. A representation of a very curious nest 

 built with mud in a haystack was given in (I believe) 

 The Field some years ago. It was well authen- 

 ticated. 



The specimens were shot at Plumpton in 

 Sussex in April, 1866. 



WHEATEAK, (NESTLINGS). 

 Case 149. 



The young birds are here shown, shortly after 

 leaving the nest, in their first feathers. 



They were shot between Shoreham and 

 Beeding in Sussex in July, 1874. 



KNOT. (IMMATURE, AUTUMN). 

 Case 150. 



The young Knots that visit us in the autumn 

 generally make their first appearance in this 

 country about the end of July and continue 

 arriving for six or eight w r eeks longer. In 1868 

 however I met with several large flocks composed 

 entirely of immature birds on both the Sutherland 

 and lioss-shire shores of the Dornoch Firth as early 

 as the 8th July. 



Though the Knot is at all seasons one of the 

 most accessible of our mud-birds, the young on 

 their first arrival in the autumn occasionally suffer 

 themselves to be shot at time after time without 

 making the slightest attempt to escape, the 

 survivors of the flock simply rising on wing at 

 each discharge and after a short flight settling 

 again with the dead and wounded. 



