127 
FIELD NOTES. 
BIRDS. 
Crossbills near York. — On January igtli, 1913, there 
were about forty Crossbills in Crompton Wood, four miles 
from York. They were chiefly adult males, and were feeding 
on the pine cones. A gamekeeper caught some alive, but I 
believe they all died but two, which he gave to Mr. Zimmer- 
rnann, one of which is still living in his aviary. — Sydney H. 
Smith. 
Waxwings at York. — Two Waxwings were seen in Messrs. 
Backhouse’s gardens at Holgate, York, about January 10th. 
1914. by Mr. W. Lund. They were on some evergreen shrubs 
near the edge of the gardens and were so close to the observer 
that their ‘ waxing points ’ could be plainly distinguished. 
Taking wing together they flew across the gardens in a S.E. 
direction, and were not again reported in this district. — Sydney 
H. Smith. 
Nesting of the Pochard near Selby. — On June 7th, 
1913, Mr. V. Zimmermann found a nest of the Pochard, with 
seven eggs almost hatching, on Skipwith Common. Young 
Pochards were seen on the common on several dates during 
June and July by Mr. C. F. Procter, Mr. Zimmermann and 
myself, and on one occasion we had two nearly full-grown 
young ones under observation the whole of the afternoon. — 
Sydney H. Smith. 
Qannet Feeding its Young. — I think it is due to Mr. J. M. 
Campbell, of the Bass Rock lighthouse, who is a most pains- 
taking observer, to point out the great difficulty with which 
the photograph of a Gannet feeding its young one. reproduced 
by you [The Naturalist, January, Plate I.), was obtained. 
It was only secured, after many unsuccessful attempts, and 
by dint of going down the cliff one hundred and fifty feet on 
a rope — a hazardous proceeding at any time, but especially 
so in the present case, because the photographic apparatus 
had to be strapped on to the climber’s back. Then by lying 
motionless for hours among the nests, it was accomplished, 
and a scientific fact of great interest to ornithologists was 
placed beyond cavil by Mr. Campbell’s exertions. — J. H. 
Gurney, Keswick Hall, Norfolk. 
Destruction of Woodpigeons. — Following the example 
set in the South of England of appointing a special day for 
the farmers and sportsmen over a given area to harass and 
destroy as many Woodpigeons as possible, a crusade was 
arranged in the Nidd Valley and adjacent districts, with 
Knaresborough as the headquarters and organizing centre. 
1914 April 1. 
