LONG-BILLED RUNNING BIRDS. 255 



Oyster- Catcher in its partiality for rugged, sea-washed 

 rocks. Here, alone or in small parties, and close to 

 the breaking waves, it runs about searching the sea- 

 weed for the marine insects, small crustaceans, &c. on 

 which it feeds. Occasionally an odd bird joins the 

 flocks of Dunlins and other small \f aders on the mud- 

 flats ; from these, however, it is easily distinguished by 

 its plump form mounted on short legs, but chiefly by 

 its very dark plumage, notably the black tract from 

 rump to tail. Like the Turnstone, the Purple Sand- 

 piper will swim on a calm sea. Its note is a piping 

 ' Wheet'wLet ! ' 



KNOT.— Plate 108. 10 inches. Crown and upper 

 parts mottled with brown, gray, and buff", becoming 

 white, flushed strongly with chestnut, on the rump, 

 with black bars before the tail ; face and under parts 

 chestnut ; bill stout, straight, black ; legs black. In 

 winter ashy-gray above, but white, with blackish 

 bars, towards the tail ; under parts white, with 

 dark streaks and mottling on fore-neck, chest, and 

 flanks. Winter migrant. 



The Knot visits our coasts as a migrant in spring 

 and autumn, but in much greater numbers at the 

 latter season, and many of the birds stay with us 

 until spring. Singly or in small bands they frequent 

 the seashore, often associating with Dunlins and 

 Ringed Plovers on the flats, and flying and running 

 with them along the water-line as the tide recedes. 

 The Knot has a musical note, ' Twee-twee ! ' used as it 

 flies. The Dunlin, Curlew-Sandpiper, and Sander- 



