94 



branches. Another old holly presented a singular aspect, from the determined 



way in which its limbs, centuries old, have encircled and compressed a thorn tree. 



—If trees can ever be vicious this one certainly is.— The thorn all the same is 



tough and bears its fate bravely. Mr. Lees could not resist sketching this one, 



and another whose five stems gave a joint circumference of 14 feet, and he 



descanted meanwhile with zeal on the very slow growth of the holly, and its gi-eat 



age and venerable appearance. "These trees perhaps beheld the Saxun and 



Danish invaders in Britain" said he, "and certainly they must be considered 



coeval with the conquest." However this may be, deponent sayeth not. It was 



very delightful to rest on the fantastic mossy roots that surrounded so many of 



the old trees, and to wander from one veteran sylvan to another, noticing their 



umbrageous peculiarities and divarications, in divine oblivion to all low-carking 



cares. Some of the oaks were old and picturesque, but none of very large size 



have escaped the fell-stroke of the woodman's axe in search of valuable timber. 



Here in this sequestered scene, many might exclaim with Tennyson, 



" O flourish hidden deep in fern, 



Old oak, I love thee well, 

 A thousand thanks for what I learn 

 And what remains to tell." 



The bole of one oak presented a series of fine specimens of the fungus, 

 Polyporus dryadeus, exuding large drops of native ketchup, which were carefully 

 collected for microscopic examination. A small specimen of the Hijr/rophorm 

 coccineus was gathered by one fair hand. The poisonous Scleroderma vulgare was 

 met with ; and these with a half-eaten Boletus sub-tomentosus were all the funguses 

 collected during the day. Fungus life requires more moisture than we have 

 recently had. 



A long morning was most agreeably passed amidst the delicious forest 

 shades which all present are not likely soon to forget- 

 So variously seemed all things wrought, 

 'Twas marvel how the mind was brought 

 To anchor by one gloomy thought. 



Thoughts did intrude, but they were not gloomy. The inner man has claims that 

 will be urged even at the most poetical times, and, as Miss Edgeworth says in one 

 of her tales, "even at the most exciting period of mental thought dinner must be 

 placed on the table." All were ready to answer the summons now, the Dryads 

 were left, nor could the members be induced to wait at the door of the Speech 

 House even for a few minutes that they might appear in the photograph that was 

 being taken by one of the visitors. 



This will be the favourable opportunity to give the names of those present, 

 since there was no fear of absentees— Ke v. R. H. Cobbold (who was President for 

 the day), Mrs. Cobbold, and Miss Thorn; Mr. Edwin Lees, F.L.S., F.G.S., 

 Vice-President of the Worcester and Malvern Field Clubs ; Rev. W. L. Bevan, Mr. 

 Swinburne (Vice-President), Mrs. and Miss Swinburne, and the Rev. W. Kearsey 

 Thomas; Mr. Timothy Curley, F.G.S., &c. ; Mrs. Oldham, Mr. Charles Oldham, 

 Miss Oldham, Miss Wakefield, Miss Edith Symonds, and Miss Stillingfleet, Captain 



