FEBRUARY, 1882. 137 



junction is effected, for it is a type of many similar 

 vagaries in the forest. Well ! the smaller branch, some 

 four to six inches in diameter, has simply grown straight 

 through the larger one, and still retains its bark, although 

 deeply embedded in the hard wood. Yet, outside, the 

 barks overlap, and there it was really impossible to say 

 exactly how the junction had come about. On this great 

 tree there is scarcely a straight stick, although it may 

 represent twenty carts of wood, for every few inches 

 along the branches there are knots like the fist, apparently 

 caused by insects distorting the growth. These micros- 

 copic mites exercise a great influence upon forest trees. 



We lay down our axe and step under the shelter, for 

 the blast is bitter and hail-laden. A group of High- 

 land cattle are standing in the field, where the storm 

 lately cast some great branches from that stately oak tree. 

 They have not left a single twig of it, and are now busily 

 engaged chewing the branches assiduously. We should 

 have supposed that oak bark thus partaken of would 

 have had a very injurious effect on the interior arrange- 

 ments of the cows; but perhaps they feel the lack of 

 fodder at this season of the year, and find a dose of 

 astringent bark act successfully in reducing the undue 

 summer capacity of their stomachs ! 



Just like children ! we mutter, as, looking out of our 

 little window, we note the sheep on the foreshore. The 

 tide is coming in, and the stream, so lately a comparative 

 driblet, is now several feet deep with the brackish water. 

 Sheep, " of course," don't think, and only act from instinct 

 and "follow my leader." Down the gravel bank comes 

 the foremost sheep, walks steadily into the water, and 

 swims across to the grass on the other side, followed by 

 all the rest, except one ! This fellow comes quietly 



