THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. 
113 
The Ash-coloured Sandpiper, or KNOT/sometimes called 
the Grey, Red, or Eed-breasted Sandpiper {Tringa Canutus), 
— This is a larger bird than the Dunlin, measuring about ten 
and a-half inches to the end of the tail, it has a long straight 
bill, with the tip considerably dilated. The plumage in 
winter is ash grey above, white beneath, with dusky streaks 
on the sides ; in summer glossy black on the back, with 
yellowish red variegations ; the neck and breast yellowish 
red. The ash-coloured Sandpipers appear on the British 
coasts in small flocks in the beginning of September, some- 
times a little earlier, and they remain there, seldom going 
far inland, until the end of April or beginning of May. They 
breed in the northern parts of both continents, frequenting 
in summer the marshy districts. In the nature of their 
food and general habits they closely resemble the Dunlins. 
The old historian Camden says, that ' these birds derive their 
name from King Canute, Knute, or Knout, as he is some- 
times called ; probably because they were a favourite dish with 
that monarch,' as they appear to have been with others, 
for in the Norfolk Household Book, which dates back to 
1519, are several entries of rewards to fowlers for bringing 
in Knots. On their first arrival on our shores, their cap- 
ture is not at all difficult, indeed they are stupidly tame, to 
prove which it may be mentioned that Sir William Jardine 
met with a large flock on the east side of Holy Island, in 
the month of September, of which he killed as many as 
he wanted with stones from the beach, and others have 
obtained specimens in the same way. 
On some parts of our coasts the Knots often form large 
flocks in winter ; but they are not so abundant as the Dun- 
lins, although they are more frequently seen in the markets, 
owing to the ease with which they are captured. Macgil- 
livray says that their flesh is not inferior in flavour to that 
of the Golden Plover. 
The Purple Sandpiper, sometimes called the Eock Sand- 
piper {Tringa marithnd). — This is a larger and more robust 
bird than the Dunlin, measuring generally about nine and 
a-quarter inches in length ; it has a bill somewhat longer 
than the head, and slightly decurved at the end, colour 
II 
