90 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
StonecHaT, Saxicola rubicola. This bright, 
sprightly little bird, Iam glad to say, 1s not at all 
uncommon with us: it is resident here throughout 
the year, though it changes its locality for a short 
time in the winter, when it generally leaves the 
hedge-rows of the vale, on the topmost twigs of 
which it has passed the summer, for some of the 
more sheltered bottoms of the Quantock and other 
neighbouring hills, where it may be seen all through 
the winter, perched on the top of some furze-bush, 
looking as bright and gay as it does on the hedge- 
rows of the vale during the summer. In mild 
winters it does not always make even this partialh 
migration, for I have observed it at a favourite spot 
on the road from here to Taunton in January. 
The Stonechat, though partially resident with 
us, receives considerable additions to its numbers 
during the summer: the foreign-going birds return 
to this country early in March, and continue with 
us until tolerably late in the autumn. 
This is an early-nesting bird, usually beginning 
to build early in April: its nest is difficult to find, 
being generally on or close to the ground, at the 
bottom of some thick furze or bramble-bush; or if 
it builds in a hedge its nest is generally in the 
thickest place on the top, or what in these parts is 
called the “combe” of the hedge: it is made of 
moss and strong grass, lined with bents, hairs and a 
few feathers. 
