EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 233 
field for the zoologist to range in. Besides the common Wild- 
duck, of which an account is given in another place,* wild 
Geese, Garganies, Pochards, Shovelers, and Teals breed here. 
I have seen in the Hast Fen a small flock of the tufted Ducks ; 
but they seemed to make it only a baiting place. The Pewit 
Gulls and black Terns abound ; the last in vast flocks almost 
deafen one with their clamours. A few of the great Terns or 
Tickets [? Pickets] are seen among them. I saw several of 
the great crested Grebes on the Hast Fen, called there Gaunts,t 
and met with one of their floating nests with eggs in it. The 
lesser crested Grebe [same as the preceding], the black and 
dusky Grebe [Black-necked Grebe in summer and winter 
plumage] and the little Grebe, are also inhabitants of the 
fens, together with Coots,t Water-hens, spotted Water-hens, 
Water-rails, Rufis, Redshanks, Lapwings or Wipes, Red-breasted 
Godwits and Whimbrels.§ The Godwits breed near Washen- 
brough|| [and when fattened sell for half a crown or five shillings 
apiece, B.Z., II., p. 439]; the Whimbrels only appear for about 
a fortnight in May near Spalding, and then quit the country. 
Opposite to Fossdyke Wash during summer are vast numbers 
of Avosettas, called there Yelpers from their cry. They 
hover over the sportsman’s head like the Lapwing and fly 
with their necks and legs extended. Knots are taken in 
nets along the shores near Fossdyke in great numbers during 
winter ; but they disappear in the spring.” 
Pennant had not at that time discovered that his Red 
Knot was only the summer plumage of the Grey Knot as well 
as of his Flintshire Ash-coloured Sandpipers. It is, however. 
correct enough to say that these birds go away in May: their 
variable plumage continued to puzzle ornithologists. The 
following particulars about the Knot are given in “ British 
Zoology”: ‘These birds, when fattened, are preferred by 
some to the Ruffs themselves. They are taken in great numbers 
on the coasts of Lincolnshire in nets such as employed in 
taking Ruffs; with two or three dozens of stales of wood 
* This reference is to the ‘‘ British Zoology,” II., p. 594. 
¢ Seen on June 27th, 1769, B.Z. 
+ A white coot seen at Spalding, B.Z., II., p. 495. 
§ Called Curlew-Knot at Spalding, B.Z., II., p. 430. 
|| On the Witham, near Lincoln. 
