196 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



place. These birds were in autumn plumage, with 

 just a faint trace of buff-colour on the breast. I 

 have seen a bird of this species, in autumn plumage, 

 in the collection of Mr. Minasi, which that gentle- 

 man shot at the same piece of water. ^ 



As far as I have been able to observe, the Curlew 

 Sandpiper is more fearless than many other of the 

 waders, and will suffer a near approach before taking 

 wing. I once shot a Curlew Sandpiper which 

 allowed me to approach within a few yards, although 

 a flock of birds with which it had been feeding had 

 taken wing some time previously. It appears very 

 sociable in its habits, and may generally be seen 

 with a flock of Ringed Plovers or Dunlins. From 

 the former it is easily distinguished when on the 

 wing, and, when flying among a flock of the latter, 

 it may be recognized by its upper tail-coverts, which 

 are white. The note is something like that of the 

 Dunlin, but louder. It is very rapid in flight, but, 

 if not fired at, will, like the Jack Snipe> alight again 

 at no great distance. 



KNOT, Tringa canutus. In a note upon the arrival 

 of summer birds at Kingsbury, dated 17th June, 

 1844, and published in 'The Zoologist' for that 

 year, the occurrence of the Knot at Kingsbury Re- 

 servoir is mentioned ; but this is the only notice of 

 the appearance of this species in the county that I 

 have been able to obtain. 



The Knot, like the Godwits and the Curlew 



