THE KNOT. 
307 
numeroHS than the sands of the sea-shore. All the stomachs of 
knots killed here that have come under my inspection were filled 
with minute univalve mollnsca alone ; chiefly with that already 
named, the young of Littorina rudis, &c. This bird does not return 
from its breeding-haunts to Belfast Bay so early as some others 
of its tribe : the earliest date known to me is the middle of 
August ; — 14th in 1848, and 15th in 1849. Numbers appeared 
at the date mentioned in the former year, and about three dozen 
were killed by a shooter near Holywood. They fortunately 
arrived just in time, not on their own account, but — for the pie- 
crust ; as they were hurriedly made into “ plover pies,^^ to be set 
before a monster temperance meeting which took place on the 
following day in the village. In September the full number 
arrives, and in very large flocks, chiefly of young birds. Twenty- 
five have been killed here at one shot with an ordinary gun ; and 
(November 2, 1843) forty-one, together with six redshanks and 
sixty dunlins, with a swivel-gun. The propensity of the knot 
and godwit to associate together has been remarked to me by a 
good observer, but the former species has generally come under 
my own notice, when keeping by itself. 
Knots are easy of approach on their first appearance in the 
autumn, of which the following is an illustration. A flock, 
originally of above twenty birds, persevered in alighting near to 
where they were first fired at until by four shots they were all 
obtained but one. After being repeatedly persecuted they become 
very wary, the great body even retiring altogether, or in large 
flocks, from Belfast Bay in the early morning to the less fre- 
quented Strangford Lough, whence they again return in the 
evening to feed in the former locality during the night. This 
is their daily practice throughout the later part of autumn and 
the whole winter, except when there is a very strong wind against 
them (less than a hurricane hardly affects them), on which occa- 
sions they remain in whichever place they happen to be in Bel- 
fast Bay at all times a few may be seen during the day. Many are 
* This is not in opposition to the following remarks, which are strictly correct 
and applicable to most of the species of Grallatores as well as the Anatidce. Mr, 
X 2 
