io8 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



the Royal Dane's great liking for its flesh. The 

 bird continued to be so closely associated with the 

 king by successive writers, that Linnseus followed 

 them in applying the specific name of canutiis to 

 the Knot, which is still retained by the majority 

 of naturalists. 



The migrations of the Knot are very marked 

 and regular. The bird begins to arrive on the 

 British coasts early in August, and from then to the 

 end of October a nearly constant stream pours 

 upon them, reaching its greatest volume in Sep- 

 tember. By far the greater number pass on to still 

 more southern haunts, but a sufficiently large 

 portion remain to winter as to render the species 

 one of the most familiar of Limicoline forms to 

 habitues of the coast. The return migration 

 begins on our coasts in April, and continues 

 throughout May. The principal haunts of the 

 Knot in the British Islands are situated on the 

 eastern and south-eastern coasts. Mud-flats, salt- 

 marshes, wide, expansive sands, and big estuaries, 

 are the spots where Knots most do congregate, for 

 these furnish it with a constant supply of food. 

 Ten years ago, I remember, great numbers of 

 Knots used to be caught in the flight-nets on the 

 Wash, during October and November, but the 

 numbers of late years have considerably decreased. 

 The Knot is not only very gregarious, but social, 

 and often mixes with companies of other waders. 

 When feeding Knots keep close together, generally 



