the hedges by the roadside than it is here, Somersetshire, or in many
counties in England. In Alderney 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 uncommon.

Professor Ansted includes the Stonechat in his list, but marks it as
confined to Guernsey and Sark. There is a specimen in the Museum.

33. WHINCHAT. _Pratincola rubetra_, Linnaeus. French, "Tarier
ordinaire," "Traquet tarier."--The Whinchat seems to me never so
numerous as the Stonechat, and more local in its distribution during the
time it is in the Islands. It is only a summer visitant, and I doubt if
it always remains to breed, though it certainly does so occasionally, as
I have seen it in Guernsey through June and July mostly in the south
part of the Island, near Pleimont. In my last visit to the Islands,
however, in June and July, 1878, I did not see the Whinchat anywhere,
neither did I see one when there in June, 1876.

Professor Ansted includes the Whinchat in his list, and marks it as
occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There is no specimen in the Museum.