110 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



grey. The females, as in the Plovers generally, re- 

 semble the males and are slightly larger. See Plate 

 32, Fig. 186. 



In the autumn these birds visit the eastern shores of 

 Great Britain in great numbers, the immigration 

 at that time consisting chiefly of young birds. 

 Smaller numbers of adult birds arrive in the spring 

 in their full breeding colours, on their way to their 

 breeding-grounds within the Arctic Circle. 



Like the Curlew Sandpiper, the Knot and the San- 

 derling have a red breeding plumage. 



The Knot, also called Robin Snipe and Grey Snipe, 

 is the largest of these three species, measuring ten 

 inches in length. In winter grey above and white 

 below, it assumes in the spring a very handsome dress. 

 The head and neck are reddish-brown, with dark 

 streaks, the back-feathers are blackish, spotted with 

 chestnut and margined with white, while the throat 

 and breast are a rich dark chestnut. See Plate 32, 

 Fig. 187. 



Until the year 1876 the breeding-place of the Knot 

 was unknown. It was then discovered nesting in the 

 snow of the Arctic regions, by Colonel Fielding, when 

 on an Arctic expedition. On this occasion nestlings 

 only were found, and the eggs were unknown until the 

 year 1901, when specimens were found in the Taimyr 

 Peninsula, Siberia. 



The Knot is well known in this country along the 

 Atlantic seaboard, as well as on the Great Lakes and 

 in the Mississippi Valley. 



The Sanderling differs from the other Sandpipers 

 in that it lacks the hind-toe. In its autumn and win- 



