io8 



bird will be seen. When this is the case, their line 

 of flight appears to miss our shores entirely. I have 

 on two or three occasions observed large flocks 

 passing twenty or thirty miles from land ; and some 

 of the fishermen who were old gunners have assured 

 me that they have met with all the different species 

 of Waders in continual flights for several days out- 

 side the Dogger-bank, while their usual quarters on 

 the mudbanks were completely deserted. 



The specimens in the case were shot on Brey- 

 don mudflats on May 12th, 1871. 



KNOT. (WINTER). 

 Case 145. 



During severe weather, Knots are often 

 observed on the mudbanks in flocks of several 

 thousands. I have seen them particularly numerous 

 in the harbours on the coasts of Sussex and Hamp- 

 shire, also in Norfolk, and as far north as the flat 

 shores of Ross-shire and Southerland. 



In consequence of their remarkable tameness 

 they are certain to fall victims to the punt-gunners 

 and from one to two hundred are often bagged at 

 one discharge; as they generally bring in to the 

 fowlers from fourpence to fivepence each, a large 

 flock of Knots is always an acceptable sight. 



The birds in the case were killed at the Little 

 Ferry in Sutherland in March, 1869* 



^Seventy Knots and twenty-four Godwits, the 

 whole being the result of a single shot, were picked 

 up together with the present specimens ; at least 

 half as many more being swept away by the flowing 

 tide before those nearest at hand could be gathered 

 up. Considering the fact that the gun was only 

 loaded with 10 oz. of No. 1, it was by no means a 

 bad shot. 



