THE KNOT. 505 



royal appreciation of their flavor. Whereupon the eager courtiers dubbed 

 the waders Knuts, or Knots, and so they have come down to us — at least 

 so Pennant says: and Linuceus, not over-curious (he was a busy man with 

 all of Adam's task to finish) accepted the tradition in "Tringa canuhis." 

 It is certainly fitting that these birds of the farthest north should bear the 

 name of some hardy Norseman. 



Knots had swept down the roaring coast for centuries, but the mys- 

 tery was. Where do they come from? Sir So-and-so was charged with 

 high commission to bring back with him from the algid north, along with sun- 

 dry information about the tides, and temperatures, and short cuts to China, a 

 set of Knot's eggs; but he came back empty-handed. Grizzled sea-captain.s 

 said, "Lo' here! lo there! they breed;" but the eggs were not forthcoming. 

 Finally, it was left for our own Lieutenant Greely to bring back the first 

 authentic specimen, one taken near Fort Conger, Latitude 81°, 44', north, to- 

 gether with the parent bird. Verily if we were Knots, even baby Knots, we 

 might stand some show of reaching the North Pole. 



The Robin Snipe are found chiefly coastwise. They are still common 

 along the Atlantic, altho greatly reduced in numbers ; but are rare or casual 

 in the interior. Dr. T. M. Brewer thus summarizes some of the bird's chief 

 points of interest : "The Knot is said tO' feed principally on aquatic insects 

 and the soft animals inhabiting small bivalve shells. It is also said tO' be 

 able toi swim with great ease. Wilson, who has observed flocks of these 

 birds on the sandy shores of New Jersey, states that their favorite and 

 almost exclusive food seemed to be a small, thin, oval, bivalve shellfish of a 

 pearly white color, which lie at a short distance below the surface, and in 

 some places in low water occur in heaps. These are swallowed whole, and 

 when loosened by the waves are collected by this bird with great ease and dex- 

 terity. While doing this the bird follows the flowing and the recession of the 

 waves with great nimbleness, and Wilson adds that it is highly amusing to ob- 

 serve with what adroitness it eludes the tumbling surf, while seeming wholly 

 intent on collecting its food. Audubon has seen this species probe the wet 

 sand on the borders of oozy salt-marshes, thrusting in its bill with the same 

 dexterity shown by other species. Its flight is swift, elevated, and well 

 sustained. The aerial evolutions of these birds on their first arrival in fall 

 are said to be beautiful, and they follow each other in their course with 

 incredible celerity." 



