﻿NESTING 
  OF 
  THE 
  LONG-EARED 
  OWL. 
  261 
  

  

  good 
  under-cover, 
  in 
  the 
  shape 
  of 
  bracken 
  and 
  rhododendrons, 
  

   making 
  Billinge 
  a 
  noted 
  place 
  for 
  the 
  latter 
  bird. 
  Mallard 
  are 
  

   hand-reared 
  in 
  the 
  Park, 
  but 
  migrants 
  come 
  from 
  the 
  Eibble 
  

   estuary, 
  following 
  the 
  course 
  of 
  this 
  river 
  and 
  of 
  the 
  Darwen 
  ; 
  

   whilst 
  Wigeon, 
  Teal, 
  and 
  Golden-eye 
  visit 
  us 
  more 
  or 
  less 
  

   frequently. 
  Pochard 
  and 
  Tufted 
  Duck 
  occasionally 
  come 
  to 
  the 
  

   ponds, 
  but 
  I 
  think 
  they 
  are 
  birds 
  reared 
  in 
  the 
  Corporation 
  

   Park 
  which 
  have 
  not 
  been 
  pinioned 
  ; 
  consequently 
  these 
  are 
  

   not 
  molested. 
  Herring, 
  Lesser 
  Black-backed, 
  and 
  Black-headed 
  

   Gulls, 
  chiefly 
  immature 
  birds, 
  are 
  here, 
  more 
  or 
  less, 
  the 
  year 
  

   round. 
  

  

  