42 BIRDS OF GUERNSF.Y. 



the higher part of the Island the Stonechat is very 

 common, and the gay httle bird, with its bright 

 plumage and sprightly manner, may be seen on the 

 top of every fui'ze bush, or on a conspicuous twig 

 in a hedge in the wilder parts of the Island, but is 

 not so common in the inland and more cultivated 

 parts, being less frequently seen on the hedges by 

 the roadside than it is here, Somersetshire, or in 

 many counties in England. In Alder ney it is quite 

 as common as in Guernsey, and I saw two nests 

 this year (1878) amongst the long grass growing on 

 the earthworks near the Artillery Barracks ; it is 

 equally common also both in Jethou, Sark, and 

 Herm. 



There were a great many Stonechats in the Vale 

 when I was there this year (1878). Generally they 

 seemed earlier in their breeding proceedings than 

 either Wheatears, Tree Pipits, or Sky Larks, which 

 were the three other most numerous birds about 

 that part of the Island, as there were several young 

 ones about when we first went to live in the Vale 

 early in June ; still occasionally nests with eggs 

 more or less hard sat might be found, but the 

 greater number were hatched when fresh eggs of 

 Tree Pipits and Sky Larks were by no means un- 

 common. 



Professor Ansted includes the Stonechat in his 

 list, but marks it as confined to Guernsey and Sark. 

 There is a specimen in the Museum. 



