4 
KNOT. 
flats ; owing to the imperfect light, it Avas impossible to identify the whole, though lledlegs and Knots 
Avere CAudently among their numbers. Being aacII aAA^are that other punts AA'ere on the AA^ater, and in all 
probability the birds AA’ould he disturbed before a chance occurred to make a clear examination through the 
glasses, I fired the large punt-gun * in hopes of some rarities falling to the shot. After collecting the 
dead and AAOunded, we counted out about a score each of Bedlegs and Knots, a dozen Kulfs and Beeves, 
and a fcAv CurlcAV Sandpipers. The Knots AA^ere all young, and the Sandpipers adults in somewhat 
curious stages of plumage, the breasts being still red, Avbile the upper parts AA^ere mottled black and grey. 
On attempting to load the big gun it was discovered that the nipple AA'as bloAvn out ; and the necessaries 
for repairing the mishap having been accidentally omitted from the punt-box, I Avas forced to send her 
back to Yarmouth. After changing into the second punt, as tAVO or three small bunches of foAAd had been 
seen through the mist flying Avest, we made our AA^ay sloAvly toAvards the upper part of the water. Several 
flocks of Knots Avere observed, and a pair of Spotted Bedshanks tlcAV past, declining, hoAvever, to venture 
within range, though one of my men Avas the best imitator of their call I ever heard. On reaching the 
‘ ronds ’ near the deep AA'ater, ttvo punts Avere discovered to have already taken up their stations, so 
turning round we dropped back towards the spot lately quitted. Not a dozen yards had been passed 
over Avhen the tAvo Shanks f again came in vicAA", holding a course that AA'ould liaA^e brought them Avithin 
a fair shot of where our boats Avere concealed beloAV the banks, Avhen a gun (as so frequently happens on 
Breydon) was discharged, and the birds at once veered toAvards the south. On this occasion one of the 
gunners stationed at the ‘ ronds ’ had fired his shoulder-gun at a range of considerably over one hundred 
and fifty yards J. bile passing the loAA'er branch of ‘ Bessies di’ain,’ a single Knot in company Avith 
a small Wader I could not clearly identify, OAving to the drifting rain, IIcav round in ansAver to the Plover- 
call, and the stranger (proving Avhen recovered to be only a remarkably diminutive Beeve) Avas knocked 
doAAn. As several scattered birds, disturbed from loAA’'er doAAm the flats, continued making their AA'ay toAvards 
the exposed muds near the liver-side, the dummies AA’ere placed out, and the boats AvithdraAA'n a short 
distance. Almost immediately a single Bedleg, rapidly folloAA^ed by a Buff and Beeve, was attracted, and 
hovering round for a moment alighted Avithin a fcAA"^ yards ; about a score of Knots (all immature) Avere 
the next arriAmls. After calling and tAvittering in a Ioaa^ tone to the unconscious dummies for scA^eral 
minutes, they one by one turned their heads over on their backs, and carefully buried their beaks in the 
plumage, then puffing out the feathers of the breast and belly, and in' most instances lifting one leg, 
comfortably resigned themselves to repose. Por over an hour and a lialf, during which a drifting rahi 
continued, the whole party remained almost motionless ; to say, however, that they slept, would scarcffiy be 
correct, as powerful glasses revealed the fact that every few moments one of the eyes of any bird I 
was enabled to examine were slowly opened. Shortly after midday the weather cleared, and a view 
of the whole of the flats Avas obtained ; as the greater part of the flocks seen in early morning appeared 
to have taken their departure, I resolved to knock off work for the day. Our movements in'^the punts 
speedily attracted the notice of the Knots, and rousing up slightly, a few commenced to stretch themselves 
m a lazy and indifferent manner; it Avas not, however, till the men approached to remove the dummies 
that the unsuspecting birds exhibited the slightest alarm. At first they merely ran a few yards, uttering 
* In order to be prepared for all chances, a man with a second pnnt and gun was in attendance. I repeatedly found in the days 
of muzzle-loaders, especmlly when in pursuit of Waders, that another shot eould be obtainei before the old-fashioned barrel was charged- 
under such circumstances a second gun often proved exceedingly handy. ’ 
t In this district the Spotted Iledshank is generally known as the “Shank.” 
J The dieUnoe. which some „t the Breydon gunners will occesion.lly .■strike . light,- .s these eharsetein term the set of Srine 
lub ” f 7 ”7' !■» t. de with such as well a. over.nxiety to ebt.in a few 
”■ t» >.7 the family i„t a-heilmg. Ignorance in judging the range et birds, and an unlimited faith in the merits ef their weapons, 
also proies a great drawback to the success of these persevering fowlers. ' 
