178 BIRD NAMES. [No. 52. 



whitish borderings to the feathers. Lower parts white or nearly 

 so, the breast sometimes tinged with buff. The neck and front 

 of body streakily flecked, the sides faintly and irregularly barred, 

 with dusky. 



The different plumages of this species (" red," " ash-colored," 

 and the variations between these) have caused some of its names 

 to appear as very contradictory. 



Length ten and a half inches ; extent twenty inches or more ; 

 legs and bill nearly black, the latter one and three eighths to 

 one and a half inches long. 



A very good bird for the table, and well known to most of 

 the world. 



KNOT:* RED-BREASTED SANDPIPER: RED SANDPIPER: ASH- 

 COLORED SANDPIPER: FRECKLED SANDPIPER: GRISLED SAND- 

 PIPER. The last two titles are given (among other names) by 

 Latham, Syn., 1785. Giraud says, in his Birds of Long Island, 

 1844 : " Late in September it moves southward ; at this period 

 the lower plumage is white, spotted on the neck, breast, and 

 flanks with dusky ; the upper plumage ash gray ; in this dress it 

 is the WHITE ROBIN SNIPE of our gunners." "Wilson says: 

 " The common name of this species on our sea-coast is the GRAY- 

 BACK" (see No. 45), and we find the following in Audubon: 

 " My friend, John Bachman, states that this species is quite 

 abundant in South Carolina, in its autumn and spring migrations, 

 but that he has never seen it there in full plumage. In that 

 country it is called the MAY-BIRD, which, however, is a name 

 also given to the Rice-bird. Along the coasts of our Middle 

 District, it is usually known by the name Gray -back." In 



* Canute, or Knut, king of Denmark and conqueror of England, was 

 forced to retreat — we are told — before the incoming tide (in a manner to 

 shame certain courtiers who claimed that the sea would obey him) even as 

 this big sandpiper is driven by the waves, in common with smaller birds. It 

 has been stated also, that this species was a great favorite with the old king — 



"The Knot that called was Canntus' bird of old, 

 Of that great king of Banes his name that still doth hold, 

 His appetite to please that far and near was sought." — Drayton. 



