80 BRITISH BIRDS. 



It is said they breed in the northern parts of both 

 Europe and America. Pennant says they appear 

 in vast flocks on the shores of Flintshire in the 

 winter season; and Latham, that they are seen in 

 vast numbers on the Seal-Islands, near Chateaux 

 Bay; and also that they breed and remain the 

 whole summer at Hudson's Bay, where they are 

 called by the natives SdSf/tia pisqua uisJiisJi. 



The Knot is caught in Lincolnshire, and the 

 other fenny counties, in great numbers,* by nets, 

 into which it is decoyed by carved wooden figures, 

 painted to represent itself, and placed within them, 

 much in the same way as the Ruff. It is also 

 fattened for sale, and esteemed by many equal to 

 the Ruff in the delicacy of its flavour. The season 

 for taking 'it is from August to November, after 

 which the frost compels it to disappear. 



This bird is said to have been a favourite dish 

 with Canute, king of England; and Camden ob- 

 serves, that its name is derived from his Knute, 

 or Knout, as he was called, which, in process of 

 time, has been changed to Knot. 



* Pennant says, fourteen dozen have been taken at once. 



