296 SHORE BIRDS 



II. THE KNOT 



The knot, often called robin snipe, from the resem- 

 blance of its lower plumage to that of the robin, is 

 nearly as large as the upland plover, or Bartramian 

 sandpiper. It is found throughout the world, fre- 

 quenting the shores of all continents. It has been very 

 abundant on the Atlantic Coast and is still more abun- 

 dant than many of the other waders. The young are 

 often known as gray-backs, or gray-backed snipe. 



Mr. Ralph Greenwood, writing for Shooting and Fish- 

 ing, says that at Chatham, Massachusetts, the sanderlings 

 are very plentiful ; the turnstone plovers are also abun- 

 dant and by most gunners are esteemed a step higher 

 than the sanderling. "The knot (red-breast)," he says, 

 "is still more highly esteemed by sportsmen, and as a 

 rule one or two are shot each day by each gunner. 

 Sanderlings are by some considered unworthy of a 

 charge of shot ; but the sanderling is generally quite 

 fat, and its flesh, according to my opinion, is superior 

 to the black-bellied plover, the greater yellow-legs, or 

 in fact most of the shore birds." . . . " All strive to 

 shoot the knot." 



Other local names for the knot are red sandpiper, 

 may-bird, red-breast plover, and beach robin. 



These birds feed like the other smaller and more 

 familiar shore birds, running gracefully away from the 

 on-rushing wave, flying a few feet if necessary to avoid 

 being overtaken by it and following the receding 

 waters, feeding as they go, in a manner familiar to all 

 who have taken a stroll on the beach. 



Anderson refers to the knot as a superior bird of 

 ready sale. 



