6 
KN01\ 
placed out, tliey declined to settle, and continued sweeping round, the Plovers calling loudly. Doubting 
whether a better chance to secure the specimen previously noted would be obtained, I waited for a 
time, following their movements with the big gun, till at last they drew together in the act of turning 
at the distance of about seventy yards. The trigger happening to be pulled at the exact moment, every 
bird, when the smoke which had drifted into our eyes cleared off, was discerned stretched out on the 
mud ; but a single cripple succeeded in regaining its legs. Though the whole number (three Godwits, 
five Plovers, and six Knots) were in full breeding-plumage, the Knot far exceeded any specimen I bad 
previously seen in the riehness of the tints on the back and the deep colouring of the underparts. As 
I had passed during the two seasons of 1871 and 1873 on an average between ten and twelve hours a 
day on the mudflats all through May, it is unlikely that any large number of Waders escaped notice. 
On the Sussex coast for several years this species has been exceedingly scarce in spring, the greater 
number probably passing at sea. Fishermen frequently reported large bodies of Knots as well as other 
Waders having been seen at some distanee out in the Channel making their way due east. While fishin" 
on May 13th, 1880, wind light and easterly, six or seven miles off Shoreham, I watched several flocks 
flying east shortly before dusk. On the 11th of May, 1882, a few remarkably fine specimens were noticed 
on the beach between Shoreham and Lancing, in company with a mixed party of Bar-tailed Godwits, 
Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpipers, and Dunlin, the majority showing full summer plumage. 
I cannot speak from personal experience concerning the edible qualities of the Knot ; that tire 
species, however, is held in some estimation for the table, may be judged from the fact that when 
Plovers are scarce these birds bring in to the fowlers as much as four pence, and occasionally even five 
pence, a head *. 
Unless needing specimens (eitlier for preservation or to ascertain tlieir plumage and condition) I 
invarialjly felt a certain amount of compunction in slauglitering these confiding birds Tliou"h the Knot 
is at all seasons one of the most accessible of our Waders, the young on their first arrival in Hie autumn 
occasionally siiifer themselves to be shot at time after time ivithont making the slightest attempt to 
escape, the survivors of the flocks simply rising on wing at each discharge, and after a short flight 
alighting with the dead and wounded. ° 
From the crews of the light-ships off the east coast I ascertained that Knots were well known- on 
some of the vessels they appeared to have been frequently captured. These Waders were described as 
flying in large bodies numbers falling at once on deck; and one of the men declared that the last 
ocks he observed had suddenly shied when close to the lantern, and but one or two had been taken 
• An old acquaintance, frequently met with 
for a number killed (212, if I remember right. 
on the Scotch firths, was my authority for this statement, 
being the heaviest shot) during the winter of 1867. 
The latter price he obtained 
