THE KNOT. 



571 



species of Stilt are known to science. The eggs of the Stilt are of a bluish hue, covered with 

 streaks and blotches of dusky green and dark brown. 



The greater part of the plumage of this bird is white, but the back and wings are of a deep 

 black with a gloss of green. In the female the black takes a brownish tone. The beak is 

 black, the eggs red, and the legs and toes pink. The total length of this bird is about thirteen 

 inches. 



Like many other birds, the Ruff depends for its existence upon marshy and uncultivated 

 grounds. 



It is one of the migratory species, arriving in this country in April and leaving by the end 

 of September. Formerly it was so common in the fenny districts that six dozen have been 

 taken by one bird-catcher in a single day. The flesh of these birds is remarkably excellent, 

 and they fatten fast, so that the trade of catching and fattening Ruffs was at one time a very 



RUFb'.— Machetes pugnax. 



lucrative occupation, though it now hardly repays the trouble, time, and expense. So readily 

 can these birds be fattened, that a Ruff weighing only six ounces when first placed in the cage, 

 will weigh ten when removed for the table. Generally the young birds of the first year are 

 chosen for slaughter, as they are more tender and bear captivity better than the older birds. 

 As soon as captured the Ruffs will begin to eat, and if a basin of food be placed among a 

 number of these birds they will fight so eagerly for it that each bird would starve rather than 

 allow any but itself to partake of the provisions. The feeders, therefore, humor their selfish 

 disposition by placing several dishes of food in the cages and filling them all. 



The Knot, so called in honor of King Knnt, or Canute as the name is generally spelled, is 

 one of the members of the interesting genus Tringa. 



This pretty bird is found in varying numbers, at one season flying and settling on the 

 shore in flocks of a thousand or more in number, and at another being so scarce that hardly 

 one bird can be seen where a hundred had formerly made their appearance. Mr. Thompson 

 mentions that he has seen them in such profusion, that upwards of one hundred and seventy 

 were killed at a single discharge from a swivel-gun. Sometimes they are silent while on the 



