NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. i, 
standing near together had very small heads, only a little brush 
without any large limbs. About twenty years ago the bridge at the 
Toy, near Hampton Court, being much decayed, some trees were 
wanted for the repairs that were fifty feet long without bough, and 
would measure twelve inches diameter at the little end. Twenty 
such trees did a purveyor find in this little wood, with this advantage, 
that many of them answered the description at sixty feet. These 
trees were sold for twenty pounds apiece. 
In the centre of this grove there stood an oak, which, though 
shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a large excrescence 
about the middle of the stem. On this a pair of ravens had fixed 
their residence for such a series of years, that the oak was distin- 
guished by the title of the Raven Tree. Many were the attempts 
of the neighbouring youths to get at this eyry: the difficulty whetted 
their inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting the 
arduous task. But, when they arrived at the swelling, it jutted out 
so in their way, and was so far beyond their grasp, that the most 
daring lads were awed, and acknowledged the undertaking to be too 
hazardous: so the ravens built on, nest upon nest, in perfect 
security, till the fatal day arrived in which the wood was to be 
levelled. It was in the month of February, when these birds 
usually sit. The saw was applied to the butt,—the wedges were 
inserted into the opening,—the woods echoed to the heavy blow of 
the beetle or malle or mallet,—the tree nodded to its fall; but still 
the dam sat on. At last, when it gave way, the bird was flung from 
her nest ; and, though her parental affection deserved a better fate, 
was whipped down by the twigs, which brought her dead to the 
ground.* 
* We have always found the raven, whether nesting upon a rock or upon a tree, most 
unapproachable after she had been disturbed or alarmed. 
