1132 



About eight years ago, when passing the celebrated yew of Fortin- 

 gal, in Perthshire, I was induced to examine its remains, then sur- 

 rounded by a walled inclosure ; and from what I saw, my impression 

 was that the entire circumference marked by the remains, had not been 

 that of a solitary tree, but of several trees which had grown in a cir- 

 cle. May not this appearance have been produced by the same pro- 

 cess, but on a larger scale, as that now going forward in the Bow den 

 yew ? It would thus appear that the branches of the tree make an 

 effort to put forth internally, roots of their own, when the trunk ceases 

 to convey the requisite nourishment from the ground. 



W. Wilson. 



Warrington, July 22, 1844. 



Art. CCLII. — Three Days' Botanizing at Selhorne. 

 By T. Bell Salter, M.D., F.L S. 



Towards the latter end of last month, I paid a short visit to the 

 village, which has been rendered so surpassingly interesting by the 

 observations of that true lover of Nature, Gilbert White ; whose place 

 and residence are now come into the possession of my much loved 

 and excellent relative, Professor Bell. It was during a short visit to 

 the residence of White, and in the company of Bell, that the follow- 

 ing observations were made, — association and associate to inspire 

 great things. Speaking of association, tempts me to add what I know 

 must be gratifying to every naturalist, which is this ; — that the pre- 

 sent owner of Selborne Park pi-eserves with the most sacred care all 

 the local reminiscences of his illustrious predecessor — reminiscences, 

 which are neither few in number, nor devoid of interest, but which it 

 would be out of place further to allude to here. 



With the habits of many of our birds the name of Selborne has long 

 been, and will long continue to be, associated, from the circumstance 

 of the originality and truthfulness of White's observations, and from 

 the very remarkable fact, that notwithstanding the time which has 

 elapsed, better observations have not since been made. The graphic 

 descriptions of this good man have also associated with the name of 

 Selborne an idea — I had almost said a feeling — of all that is pictur- 

 esque in Nature, and rustic and primitive in the manners of its sim- 

 ple-minded habitants. So numerous are the observations first made 

 in this sequestered place, that one can imagine it to be the favoured 

 resort of the feathered tribes : — and so may it well be ; for it is truly 



