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Although its breeding-haunts are situated in such high latitudes that they are only known to 

 have been reached by those engaged in various Arctic expeditions, the Knot ranges very far 

 south during the winter season, having been recorded from South Africa, New Zealand, and 

 Brazil. With us in Great Britain it is common all round the coast during the autumn and 

 winter season, most numerous, however, during the seasons of passage. Large flocks arrive on 

 our shores from the southward about the middle of May ; and the birds composing them are then 

 in full summer dress. I have frequently shot it on the south coast of England ; and on the east 

 coast it is said by Mr. Stevenson to be a regular and at times a very numerous visitant. According 

 to Mr. Cordeaux (B. of Humb. Distr. p. 132), it " occurs annually in the autumn, often in immense 

 flocks, on the Humber foreshores, some portion of which, as the season advances, retire south- 

 ward, many, however, remaining ; and they may be found in greater or less numbers all through 

 the winter along the coast. These receive large accessions, probably from some northern locality, 

 in severe weather, their abundance or scarcity during the winter seasons appearing mainly 

 dependent on the mildness or severity of the season ;" and Mr. Hancock, in recording its occur- 

 rence on the coasts of Northumberland and Durham, says that it is " a common winter visitant, 

 arriving on our coast in August, and remaining till spring. A few adults make their appearance 

 sometimes as early as July ; these are usually in their faded summer dress. At Fenham Flats, 

 in the neighbourhood of Holy Island, the Knot often appears in large numbers in the autumn 

 and winter months." Referring to its range in Scotland, Mr. Robert Gray writes (B. of W. of 

 Scotl. p. 318) as follows: — "Judging from my own observation, I should be inclined to regard 

 this bird as a somewhat uncommon species in the western counties of Scotland. I have met with 

 occasional specimens from Sutherlandshire to the Mull of Galloway, but I have never seen such 

 flocks on our shores as are to be seen on those of the eastern counties. It has lately occurred in 

 Islay, as I have been informed by Mr. Elwes, but not, so far as I am aware, on any of the other 

 islands, except in a single instance — namely, that of a specimen in full summer plumage, which 

 was shot on the 30th of July 1870, by Captain MacRae in the Strand of Vallay, in North Uist, 

 and shown to me by that gentleman three days afterwards when I visited the island. This 

 specimen is now in the collection of Captain Orde. In September 1866, when on a visit to the 

 Mull-of-Galloway lighthouse, I saw a fine specimen taken on the lantern, against which it fell 

 stunned ; but Mr. M'Donald, one of the keepers there, informed me that he had never observed 

 one before. On the east coast the Knot is usually found in small flocks, on all the shores 

 extending from Caithness to Berwick. At some places, and in particular seasons, these flocks 

 are much larger than at other times, especially in the month of September, about the time of 

 their arrival, when they are seen in countless numbers." On the autumn migration, according to 

 Dr. Saxby, the Knot arrives in Shetland in September, a few being, however, seen in July and 

 early in August, but it is very seldom seen there in winter. On the Irish coast, as in England, 

 it is common in suitable localities during the autumn and winter. 



In Greenland it is rare in the south, but often met with in the north. By the older Arctic 

 expeditions it was found breeding on Melville Peninsula, and in great abundance on the Parry 

 Islands ; but it has not been met with on the east coast of Greenland. Captain Feilden, who, 

 when on the recent Arctic expedition, was fortunate enough to rediscover the breeding-haunts 

 of the Knot, writes to me as follows : — " I found the present species common along the shores 



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