S T 0 1\ E C H A T. 
SJXICOLA ItUBICOLJ. 
From north to south tho Stonechat is well known throughout the British Islands, a few pair remaining 
heie and there in their usual haunts during the winter months. Fresh arrivals, however, make their 
appearance in the spring ; and a certain number take their departure before the approach of winter. Whether 
the migrants are the young or old, or both, I am unable to state. 
The furze-clad downs of Sussex are a favourite haunt of the Stonechat ; and here this sprightly bird may 
be met with in greater numbers than in any other district I am acquainted vuth. It is also to be seen along 
rough country-lanes Avhere the surrounding fields are divided by broad hedgerows of no great height, or 
where a portion of the laud is unreclaimed. In Norfolk a few frequent the neighbourhood of the broads 
at all seasons of the year. The Stonechat, with the exception of the Reed-Pheasant and Pick-cheese*, was 
almost the only small bird I used to find among the marshes and broads when wildfowl-shooting, during 
the winter months, in the east of Norfolk. One of these birds may not unfrequently be observed to rise some 
height above the reeds and remain hovering in the air for nearly half a minute. At any considerable 
distance it would be difficult to distinguish this species, while fluttering in this manner, from the Kingfisher, 
as both species exhibit the same habit. ° 
In Perthshire, Ross-shire, and Sutherland I have remarked this species at almost all seasons. I believe 
however, during severe weather the birds desert the exposed hill-sides and come down into the sheltered 
glens and comes, and at times even to the vicinity of houses and gardens. I noticed a pair or two 
nested in the rough herbage among the sandbanks on the “fendom,”a remarkably flat district to the east 
of Tain. 
During autumn and winter the male Stonechat is by no means so showy as in his summer pluma<^e; but 
though his dress is sober-coloured, his lively actions as he flits from twig to twig along the roadside °or over 
t le open moor are sure to attract attention. I have occasionally remarked that a few of these birds take up 
their quarters for a portion of the winter within a short distance of the sea-shore. Early in November 1882 
two pairs made their appearance on the ridge of shingle between Shoreham and Lancin-. They usuallv 
requented the upper part of the banks, where plants of dock, chamomile, sea-beet, and”sea-poppy were 
numerous; at tunes, however, they showed themselves on the breakwaters, and settled now and then on 
t le umps of seaweed cast up by the tide. I noticed that each pair confined themselves to a re-ular beat 
seldom straying beyond the distance of three or four of the sea-groins. 
This species eommenees its nesting-operations at an early date in the southern counties, bein^ one of 
the first o. our small hmds to build oa tho Sussex Dowas. It usually selects a spot amoag low f^raod 
coarse grass or at times la a heap of rubbish or trimmings lying oa the ground. The female sits close and 
aroatriarer 10“' a 
* Norfolk name for Boarded Tit and Blue Tit. 
