90 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



STONECHAT, Saxicola rubicola. This bright, 

 sprightly little bird, I am glad to say, is 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 partial 

 migration, for I have observed it at a favourite spot 

 on the road from here to Taunton in January. 



The Stoneohat, 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. 



