THE NATURAL HISTORY 



[LETT. 



Shortheath, Oakhanger, and Oakwoods ; a large district, now 

 private property, though once belonging to the royal domain. 



It is remarkable that the term purlieu is never once mentioned 

 in this long roll of parchment. It contains, besides the per- 

 ambulation, a rough estimate of the value of the timbers, which 

 were considerable, growing at that time in the district of the 

 Holt ; and enumerates the officers, superior and inferior, of those 

 joint forests, for the time being, and their ostensible fees and 

 perquisites. In those days, as at present, there were hardly any 

 trees in Wolmer Forest. 



PATH BY LONG 



Within the present limits of the forest are three considerable 

 lakes, Hogmer, Cranmer, and Wolmer ; all of which are stocked 

 with carp, tench, eels, and perch ; but the fish do not thrive 

 well, because the water is hungry, and the bottoms are a naked 

 sand. 



A circumstance respecting these ponds, though by no means 

 peculiar to them, I cannot pass over in silence; and that is, that 

 instinct by which in summer all the kine, whether oxen, cows, 

 calves, or heifers, retire constantly to the water during the hotter 



