THE NATURAL HISTORY 



[LETT. 



like firs r but 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. 



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THE Pl.ESTOK. 



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 

 distinguished by the title of the Eaven 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 



