CHAPTER V 



SANDPIPERS AND THE SANDERLING 



THE Knot, called also locally the Ash-coloured 

 Sandpiper, appears on our coast in the latter part of 

 August, or the beginning of September. In this 

 case, again, the female is larger than the male, 

 her plumage is similar ; the old birds usually show 

 a portion of their breeding plumage when they first 

 arrive, and some have been shot in red plumage. 

 Where the Knots rush off to in order to breed is 

 a mystery yet to be solved. The young Knots are 

 coming all through August and well into September, 

 whole hosts of them ; when they first arrive they are 

 most guileless creatures, but they soon learn to take 

 better care of themselves. 



There must be a vast breeding ground somewhere, 

 not yet discovered. They leave us and they return 

 again, but where from is not known, this being one 

 of the mysteries of bird life. They are to be found 

 in great numbers on some parts of the coast-line, 

 and they are eagerly sought for by gunners, for they 

 are good birds to eat. If a large flock of them can 

 be well got at, they are well worth getting. No 



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