KNOT OR ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER. 131 
consider it probable that those which betake themselves to the fur coun- 
tries, turn off from our Atlantic shores when they have reached the en- 
trance of the Bay of Fundy. However this may be, it is certain that 
they reach a very high latitude, and that some stop to breed about Hud- 
son’s Bay, where Dr RicHarpson found them in summer. 
On some few occasions I have observed the Knot associating with 
the Tell-tale Godwit and Semi-palmated Snipe, about a mile from the 
sea, along the margins of ponds of brackish-water; but such localities 
seemed in a manner unnatural to them, and it was seldom that more 
than two or three were seen there. Along the shores, in spring, I have 
not unfrequently thought that they seemed dull, as if they had lost 
themselves, for they would allow a person to go very near, and sel- 
dom took to wing unless induced to do so by companions of other spe- 
cies, who were better aware of their situation. In autumn, when they 
at times collect into very large flocks, I have often followed them until 
I obtained as many as I wished. Witson has so beautifully described 
their movements at such times, that, although I have often witnessed 
them myself, I prefer giving his own words. 
“Tn activity it is superior to the Turnstone ; and traces the flowing 
and recession of the waves along the sandy beach with great nimble- 
ness, wading and searching among the loosened particles for its favour- 
ite food, which is a small thin oval bivalve shell-fish, of a white or 
pearl-colour, and not larger than the seed of an apple. These usually 
lie at a short distance below the surface; but in some places are 
seen at low water in heaps, like masses of wet grain, in quantities of 
more than a bushel together. During the latter part of summer and 
autumn, these minute shell-fish constitute the food of almost all those 
busy flocks that run with such activity along the sands, among the flow- 
ing and retreating waves. ‘They are universally swallowed whole; but 
the action of the bird’s stomach, assisted by the shells themselves, soon 
reduces them to a pulp. Digging for these in the hard sand would 
be a work of considerable labour, whereas, when the particles are 
loosened by the flowing of the sea, the birds collect them with great 
ease and dexterity. It is amusing to observe with what adroitness they 
follow and elude the tumbling surf, while at the same time they seem 
wholly intent on collecting their food.” 
I have however seen the Knot probe the wet sands, on the borders 
of oozy salt marshes, thrusting in its bill to the feathers on the forehead, 
i 
