306 SCOLOPACID.E. 



islets. I have hitherto been unable to obtain the eggs, but have 

 met with the young more than once in the month of June. When 

 in flocks, these birds fly in a compact body, but seldom to any 

 great distance ; and, when disturbed, after taking a small circuit 

 seaward, often return to the same exposed rock by the water's 

 edge, from which they started. They feed on marine insects, 

 such as onisci, small cancri, and on bivalve mollusca, &c, which 

 they seek for by turning aside the fronds of the ulvse, and other 

 maritime plants that grow on the rocks. Their cry is feeble, and 

 not unlike the word weet, weet, frequently repeated. In spring, 

 they sometimes associate with the turnstones (Strepsilas interpres) 

 which affect the same localities."* 



The purple sandpiper is a native of North America, and breeds 

 commonly within the arctic circle there as well as in Europe. 



THE KNOT. 



Ash-coloured Sandpiper. 



Tringa canutus, Linn. 



„ cinerea, Brunn. Temm. 



Is very common in the oozy and soft sandy bays through- 

 out autumn and winter : but retires to northern 

 latitudes to breed. 



Op all the Scolopacidce, which visit us in great numbers, this species 

 appears to be the most restricted to localities of a particular 

 nature — and on some parts of the coast is never met with. The 

 adjoining marine loughs of Larne, Belfast, and Strangford, with 

 their extensive muddy zostera-covered banks and soft sands, suit 

 the knot — or climne, as the bird is called here by the shooters — 

 admirably, and it is consequently abundant in these places. The 

 minute mollusca on which it chiefly feeds are the great attraction, 

 more especially the Paliulina niuriatica, Lam., which is only less 



* Bluet. Brit. Omit. vol. ii. p. 151. 



