KNOT. 35 



the same appears to be the case in Finland; also in Holland, 

 France, and Germany. It occurs likewise in America, even 

 to the Polar regions, and in Asia; and rears its young 

 within the Arctic circle. It is enumerated by Captain 

 Sabine among the birds inhabiting Greenland and Spitzbergen. 

 Sir William Jardine says that he has seen a specimen from 

 New Holland that appears in every way identical. 



Dr. Fleming mentions one killed in the Isle of Sanday, 

 one of the Orkneys, on the 15th. of June, 1808. Vast flocks 

 arrive on our eastern shores in the autumn. In Lincolnshire 

 it used to be extremely abundant. 



In Ireland it is a regular autumnal visitant; also in Scotland, 

 among other places, between Aberdeen and Peterhead. 



This species generally arrives in Orkney in September. One 

 was killed by Mr. Strang, August 20th., 1811; several were 

 shot by the same gentleman on August 26th., 1843, September 

 7th., 1837, and in October, 1831. They often appear in 

 large flocks. 



On the 4th. of February, 1851, I shot one of these birds, 

 when in company with my friend the Rev. R. P. Alington, 

 on the Lincolnshire side of the Humber. It was one of a 

 flock, very wild, and one of the longest shots I ever made; 

 neither of us will soon forget the walk we took that day. 

 A specimen, of which W. Brooks Gates, Esq. has written me 

 word, was shot at Pattishall, in Northamptonshire, the first 

 week in February, 1855; in Surrey, one near Godalming, in 

 December, 1854. In Cornwall, it is not uncommon near 

 Falmouth, at Gwyllyn Vase and Swanpool. 



These birds frequent the low mouths of rivers, the sides of 

 bays, and other flat parts of the coast. 



They are of migratory habits, departing in April and May, 

 to arrive again early in the autumn, in August, from the 

 north. 



On their first arrival in the autumn they are extremely 

 tame, and are easily procured; afterwards, however, they 

 learn to be more wary; and in the end become extremely 

 wild; during high water they retire to any neighbouring dry 

 land. They have been observed to swim with great ease. 

 They are valued for the table, and as they occur with us in 

 considerable numbers, are sold pretty extensively in the markets. 

 They used to be taken, Bewick says, in nets, into which they 

 were inveigled by wooden figures of birds painted in their 

 own resemblance. Pennant says that as many as fourteen 



