RED-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 255 



entrance of the Bay of Fundy. However this may be, it is certain that they 

 reach a very high latitude, and that some stop to breed about Hudson's Bay, 

 where Dr. Richardson found them in summer. 



On some few occasions I have observed the Knot associating with the 

 Tell-tale Godwit and Semi-palmated Snipe, about a mile from the sea, along 

 the margins of ponds of brackish water; but such localities seemed in a man- 

 ner unnatural to them, and it was seldom that more than two or three were 

 seen there. Along the shores, in spring, I have not unfrequently thought 

 that they seemed dull, as if they had lost themselves, for they would allow a 

 person to go very near, and seldom took to wing unless induced to do so by 

 companions of other species, who were better aware of their situation. In 

 autumn, when they at times collect into very large flocks, I have often fol- 

 lowed them until I obtained as many as I wished. Wilson has so beautiful- 

 ly described their movements at such times, that, although I have often wit- 

 nessed them myself, I prefer giving his own words. 



"In activity it is superior to the Turnstone; and traces the flowing and 

 recession of the waves along the sandy beach with great nimbleness, wading 

 and searching among the loosened particles for its favourite food, which is a 

 small thin oval bivalve shell-fish, of a white or pearl colour, and not larger 

 than the seed of an apple. These usually lie at a short distance below the 

 surface; but in some places are seen at low water in heaps, like masses of 

 wet grain, in quantities of more than a bushel together. During the latter 

 part of summer and autumn, these minute shell-fish constitute the food of 

 almost all those busy flocks that run with such activity along the sands, 

 among the flowing and retreating waves. They are universally swallowed 

 whole; but the action of the bird's stomach, assisted by the shells themselves, 

 soon reduces them to a pulp. Digging for these in the hard sand would be 

 a work of considerable labour, whereas, when the particles are loosened by 

 the flowing of the sea, the birds collect them with great ease and dexterity. 

 It is amusing to observe with what adroitness they follow and elude the 

 tumbling surf, while at the same time they seem wholly intent on collecting 

 their food." 



I have however seen the Knot probe the wet sands, on the borders of oozy 

 salt marshes, thrusting in its bill to the feathers on the forehead, and this 

 with the same dexterity as several other species. Its flight is swift, at times 

 rather elevated, and well sustained. At their first arrival in autumn, when 

 they are occasionally seen in great numbers in the same flock, their aerial 

 evolutions are very beautiful, for, like our Parrakeet, Passenger Pigeon, 

 Rice-bird, Red-winged Starling, and other birds, they follow each other in 

 their course with a celerity that seems almost incomprehensible, when the 

 individuals are so near each other that one might suppose it impossible for 



