258 SANDPIPER. 



entrap them into a net, or snare ; are in general found among the 

 Ruffs, and with them made fit for the table, with bread and milk, 

 hempseed, and sometimes boiled wheat; and when so fattened, are 

 preferred by many to the Ruffs themselves : are by some supposed 

 to breed with us,* as Mr. Lewin has figured the egg, somewhat 

 smaller than that of a Lapwing, one inch and five-eighths long, of a 

 reddish flesh-colour, dotted all over with orange red. Are found on the 

 Continent, chiefly in the northern parts,f but observed to the south 

 as far as Lake Baikal only, and not elsewhere. They are also found 

 in North America, having been brought from the province of New 

 York : how far this is connected with the Ash-coloured Species 

 we are unable to determine ; or whether it may hereafter prove to be 

 that bird, in the most perfect state of plumage. This, and the two 

 preceding, are probably the Knot in the winter dress. £ 



Mr. Temminck esteems the Knot as the Selnine;er in the first 

 year's feathers. 



" If I should expend my time with such a Snipe."* 



In Love's Labour Lost — 



" To see a King transformed to a Knot."-f- 

 " To see great Hercules whipping a gigg, 

 " And profound Nestor humming a jig," &c. — Stockd. Edit. p. 162. 



* Colonel Montagu thinks, they do not breed here, as none are caught till autumn. — 

 Om. Diet. 



f Supposed Denmark; hence called Canute's Bird. Others say, that King Canute 

 was fond of them for his table. — Gougk's Camd. Brit. ii. 230. 



t Capt. Sabine thinks that in the winter state it is the Knot ; in the progress to that of 

 summer, it becomes first the Grizzled, then the Ash-coloured ; and the old birds in summer 

 are the Islandic, Ferruginous and Red Sandpipers; and the young birds the Dusk}', Freck- 

 led, Southern, and Aberdeen Sandpipers.— Lin. Trans, xii. p. 533. 



* Act I. Scene last. In the Second Edition, fol. 535. — it is Swayne. 



t Id. p. 134. — a Gnat. Mr. Stevens thinks it to mean a Knot, or True-lover's Knot. 



