216 ON THE OLD AND EEMARKABLE 



Caledonian Forest. In the still richly wooded lands of Castle- 

 craig, Dalwick, and Posso, in reclaiming land, oak trunks are still 

 dug out, and are found strewn together as if they had been over- 

 thrown by some flood or angry tempest. 



The remarkable oaks at Lochwood, and in other places in 

 Dumfriesshire and south of Scotland, have already been noticed,, 

 and reference to others of equal interest may be permitted to the 

 appended returns ; but before concluding this report on the old 

 oaks of Scotland, it would be unpardonable if we did not notice 

 one still existing at Moffat, and interesting from the fact that we 

 owe its existence at the present day to that eminent and enthu- 

 siastic tree- lover, whose early records and notices of trees we 

 have so frequently quoted and referred to. This tree stands upon 

 a slope on the west side of the Annan, near the Dumfries road, 

 to the south of Moffat. It is a fine old oak, massive, knotted,, 

 and gnarled, with wide-spreading branches, and head finely 

 foliaoed in summer. It is called "The Gowk Tree," and Dr 

 Walker, with true affection for its associations, in the early part 

 of this century secured its preservation by a considerable money 

 payment, when the whole of the forest trees on the bank were 

 cut down by the curators of the Marquis of Annandale, because 

 it was in that tree the cuckoo annually first heralded the advent 

 of spring in the parish. Although it lost a great limb about 

 twenty-five years ago, — almost as large as many a well-grown 

 oak tree, — it is still fresh and vigorous. 



The returns appended to this report will be found to describe 

 the particulars of many trees which have not been referred to in 

 this paper, nor, indeed, previously recorded at all; they are stately 

 and noble specimens, in their different localities, of " the forest's 

 old aristocrats," each of which 



" Takes back 

 The heart to elder days of holy awe.' 



To give a detailed account, or even to name the various oaks- 

 in England, remarkable for their size or for their historical 

 associations, many of which still exist, would occupy more 

 space than the limits of a chapter devoted to the old remarkable 

 oaks in Scotland would allow ; but it may render this chapter 

 more complete if a brief reference is made to some of the most 

 important of them. They are " full of story, and haunted by 

 the recollections of the great spirits of past ages." In Norfolk,. 

 " the country of oaks," is still to be seen the ruined relic of 

 Winfarthing oak, which in 1820 is said to have measured " 70 

 feet in girth at the root and 40 feet in the middle." It is said 

 to have been known in the time of the Conqueror as " the Old 

 Oak," and its age is popularly believed to be over 1500 years.. 

 The largest and oldest oak tree in Windsor Forest,. " tJie King 



