212 PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLiE. 



narrow bars and spots of blackish. Lower parts, and a distinct superciliary stripe, uniform 

 vinaceous-rufous, or pinkish cinnamon, paler on the middle of the alxloraen ; crissuni, flanks, 

 axillars, and lining of the wing white, usually with spots and bars of dusky. Primaries dusky, 

 with white shafts ; tail-feathers plain grayish, edged with whitish, and sometimes with a sub- 

 edging of dusky. Young : Above, light ash-gray, darker on the back, each feather bordered with 

 whitish and marked with a sub-edging of dusky ; uj)per tail-coverts white, marked with dusky 

 crescents. Lower parts whitish (nearly pure white on the abdomen), the neck and breast marked 

 with streaks and flecks of dusky, the sides with dim crescentic and irregular spots of the same. 

 An indistinct whitish superciliary stripe. "Bill and feet black ; iris dark hazel" (Auddbon). 



Total length, about 10 inches ; wing, 6.50 ; tail, 2.50 ; bill, from gape, 1.50 ; tarsus, 1.25. 



Adult specimens vary individually in the relative extent of the black, gray, and reddish colors 

 on the upper parts ; gray usually predominates in the spring, the black in midsummer. Some- 

 times (as in No 10445, 9, Cape May, New Jersey) there is no rufous whatever on the upper 

 surface. The cinnamon color of the lower parts also varies in intensity. 



Two European examples in summer plumage differ from any American ones we have seen, in 

 the great excess of black on the back, where that color nearly uniformly prevails. An immature 

 specimen from Norway, however (No. 56906. Varanger Fiord), is not different from American 

 skins in corresponding plumage. 



The Knot is a cosmopolitan species, found thronghont the northern hemisphere 

 and apparently more generally distributed over the eastern continent than in the 

 New World. It does not appear to have been detected on the Pacific coast. It 

 visits South America to Brazil, and is also credited to Australia and Xew Zealand. 



Mr. C. A. Wright (" Ibis,"' 18G4) mentions the occurrence of this species at Malta, 

 as attested by a specimen in the University Museum, and also on tlie authority of 

 Schembri. It is also given by Mr. H. Saunders ("Ibis," 1S71) as occurring in Southern 

 Spain, both in autumn and in spring. He has obtained it there in the rufous-plum- 

 age in May. Mr. J. H. Gurney ("Ibis," 1868) states that the most southerly examples 

 of this species -which have come under his notice were two that were obtained in 

 Walvisch Bay, Africa, Oct. 20 and Nov. 4, 1863. The first of these specimens 

 retained some remains of the breeding-plumage, the second none. 



Yarrell speaks of this species as by no means uncommon in Great Britain from 

 autumn, through winter to spring, and says that it remains sometimes as late as 

 the beginning of May, aiul assumes its breeding-plumage before leaving for the more 

 northern regions in which it breeds. Although one had been shot in Sauda as late 

 as the 15th of June, there is no record of its having been known to breed in the 

 British Islands, and its eggs remained, up to 185G, unknown to British collectors. 

 Mr. Thompson states that it is a regular autumnal visitant of Ireland. At that sea- 

 son it is also found in flocks on the shores of most of the southern and eastern coun- 

 ties of England, the greater portion being young liirds of the year. Mr. J. H. Gurney, 

 in a comnuuiieation to the " Zoloogist," in 1853, states that specimens in the nuptial 

 dress frequently occur on the Norfolk coast of England in the spring, and that in 

 May they were for a few days unusually numerous; also that on the 13th of that 

 month a single hunter of Yarmouth procured seventy-three, nearly all in full sum- 

 mer dress. 



Mr. G. D. Rowley ("Ibis," 1864) records the captiire of six birds of this species 

 at Brighton, England, in a net, at a single pull ; this was on the 19th of September. 

 They were presumed to be all of one family, and it was sujiposed that they were 

 taken on the day of their arrival from their breeding-grounds. 



Nilsson states that this species inhabits the Arctic portions of Sweden and Norway, 

 but makes no mention of its eggs. Mr. Dunn did not meet with this bird in spring 

 and autumn, except on the coast of Scona and in the southern part of Scandinavia. 



