THE KNOT. 307 



numerous than the sands of the sea-shore. All the stomachs of 

 knots killed here that have come under my inspection were filled 

 with minute univalve mollusca alone ; chiefly with that already 

 named, the young of Littorina ruclis, &c. This bird does not return 

 from its breeding-haunts to Belfast Bay so early as some others 

 of its tribe : the earliest date known to me is the middle of 

 August ; — 14th in 1848, and 15th in 1849. Numbers appeared 

 at the date mentioned in the former year, and about three dozen 

 were killed by a shooter near Holywood. They fortunately 

 arrived just in time, not on their own account, but — for the pie- 

 crust; as they were hurriedly made into "plover pies," to be set 

 before a monster temperance meeting which took place on the 

 following day in the village. In September the full number 

 arrives, and in very large flocks, chiefly of young birds. Twenty- 

 five have been killed here at one shot with an ordinary gun ; and 

 (November 2, 1843) forty-one, together with six redshanks and 

 sixty dunlins, with a swivel-gun. The propensity of the knot 

 and godwit to associate together has been remarked to me by a 

 good observer, but the former species has generally come under 

 my own notice, when keeping by itself. 



Knots are easy of approach on their first appearance in the 

 autumn, of which the following is an illustration. A flock, 

 originally of above twenty birds, persevered in alighting near to 

 where they were first fired at until by four shots they were all 

 obtained but one. After being repeatedly persecuted they become 

 very wary, the great body even retiring altogether, or in large 

 flocks, from Belfast Bay in the early morning to the less fre- 

 quented Strangford Lough, whence they again return in the 

 evening to feed in the former locality during the night. This 

 is their daily practice throughout the later part of autiunn and 

 the whole winter, except when there is a very strong wind against 

 them (less than a hurricane hardly affects them), on which occa- 

 sions they remain in whichever place they happen to be j* in Bel- 

 fast Bay at all times a few may be seen during the day. Many are 



* This is not in opposition to the following remarks, which are strictly correct 

 and applicable to most of the species of Grallatores as well as the Anatid<s. Mr. 



x2 



