23S Description of a beautiful Tree, 



simply the skins of the young spiders, something resembling 

 many legs being apparent. 



Under any circumstances, I apprehend the fact of such a 

 parasite occurring in our own country has never been re- 

 corded, and you will probably deem it of sufficient interest to 

 allow the present article to appear in your useful miscellany. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 London^ Feb, 7. 1831. A. H. Davis. 



Art. XI. Description of a beautiful Tree. By John F. M. Dovas- 

 TONj Esq. A.M., of Westfelton, near Shrewsbury. 



" Hamlet. Do you see nothing there ? 



Queen. Nothing at all j yet all that is, I see." Hamlet. 



" You cannot see the wood for trees." Ray's Proverbs. 



It was now the middle of May ; the trees had fully put 

 forth their bright fresh leaves, and the green fields were luxu- 

 riant in a profusion of flowers. We had travelled through a 

 fine country ; when, descending the slope of a wooded valley, 

 we were struck with delight and admiration at a tree of extra- 

 ordinary appearance. There were several of the sort, dis- 

 persed singly, and in groups, over the plains and grassy 

 knolls. One we shall attempt to describe, though well aware 

 how feeble is the most florid description to depict an idea of 

 so magnificent an object. In height it exceeded 50 ft., the 

 diameter of its shade was nearly 90 ft., and.the circumference 

 of the bole 1 5 ft. : it was in full leaf and flower, and in appear- 

 ance at once united the features of strength, majesty, and 

 beauty ; having the stateliness of the oak, in its trunk and 

 arms ; the density of the sycamore, in its dark, deep, massy 

 foliage ; and the graceful featheriness of the ash, in its waving 

 branches, that dangled in rich tresses almost to the ground. 

 Its general character as a tree was rich and varied, nor were 

 its parts less attractive by their extreme beauty when sepa- 

 rately considered. Each leaf was about 18 in. in length; but 

 nature, always attentive to elegance, to obviate heaviness, had 

 at the end of a very strong leaf-stalk divided it into five, and 

 sometimes seven, leafits, of unequal length, and very long 

 oval shape, finely serrated. These leafits were disposed in a 

 circular form, radiating from the centre, like the leaves of the 

 fan palm, though placed in a contrary plane to those of that 

 magnificent ornament of the tropical forests. The central, 

 or lower, leafits were the largest, each of them being 10 in. 

 in length and 4 in. in breadth, and the whole exterior of the fo- 

 liage being disposed in an imbricated form, having a beautifully 



