(Dubious Nesting Place. This day, June 
11, while on a visit to the mills at Law- 
rence, Mass., we noticed a nest inside of I 
the depot gong. The gong is about twelve 1 
inches in diameter and about an inch and 
a quarter from the wall. Three years ago 
a pair of House Sparrows built two or 
three nests in this gong, but they were 
pulled out by the baggage master, as they 
deadened the sound of the gong. This 
year they have built four nests. The third 
one filled the entire gong except an 
entrance hole, and the female laid a 
full set of eggs and had commenced sit- 
ting, and would not leave her nest on the 
inside of the gong when it was struck for 
departing trains. That nest and eggs was 
pulled out and would fill a peck measure. 
After this the gong was covered with a 
wire netting, except a place for the ham- 
mer to lift ap, and through this small hole 
they have built their fourth nest this year. 
Now that the gong is covered with netting 
they are content with a small nest, seeming 
Birda Breeding in Districu of 
Columbia. C. W, Richmond, 
49. Passer domesticus. European House Sparrow. — This little 
renegade is excessively abundant. They are frequently seen building nests 
during mild days in winter, and rear four or five broods a year, probably 
more. In June, large numbers, mostly young birds, congregate about 
grain fields’and along country roads, where they remain until harvest time 
is over. Eggs generally five or six; nest lavishly lined with feathers. 
Auk, V. Jan, 1888. p.22 
Auk, XV, April, 1898, p ,/?3, 
The Use of Hornets' Nests by Birds. — Miss Elizabeth A. Simons of 
East Clifton, Delaware Co., Penn., has in her possession a large hornet’s 
nest, which was taken from a pear tree, in the vicinity, by her brother. 
A neat hole had been excavated in its side, directly under the comb, 
about two and one half inches in diameter, with quite a good-sized cavity 
inside, which was bedded with slender fall-grasses and lined with body 
feathers from fowls. Upon inquiry they were not certain of its true 
occupants, but from a careful examination I would judge it to be a 
freshly built nest of the House Sparrow ( Passer domesticus ). It is to be 
regretted that it had not been found by a more careful observer. 
This is the second occurrence of the use of hornets’ nests by birds, 
which has come under the writer’s notice, the other instance being a 
House Wren (Auk, Vol. VI, p. 339). — J. Harris Reed, Beverly, N. J. 
' — Jv> 
Birds Nesting imSS ’Ellecdric Arc-ffgln^H^o’ds*— ^he fact of the arc- 
light hoods being utilized for nesting purposes is common to most every 
city or town where this type of lamp is used. The House Sparrow 
(. Passer domesticus ') was no doubt the first bird to adopt them, and sub- 
sequently the Purple Martin ( Progne subis ) ; this is quite a common 
occuuence through southern New Jersey. But there yet remains another 
species, the fact of which may be new to ornithologists, which I observed 
at Atlantic City, N. J., about July, 1892. t/ H oJosci /Q'CtrcXy 
