CHARLTON FOREST. 137 



different from that of the weald. In the latter the 

 oak is predominant, and the surface of the ground 

 is covered with dense thickets of underwood, 

 chiefly composed of the same tree mingled with 

 masses of blackthorn and hazel, while in the more 

 open parts of that region the undulating surface is 

 covered with heather, fern and gorse, and the 

 holly vies with the oak in forming those detached 

 and broken clumps which add so materially to the 

 picturesque effect of such scenery. But Charlton 

 Forest is almost exclusively composed of beech 

 trees, whose tall and naked stems rise to a consi- 

 derable height from the mossy ground, and then, 

 spreading out into a net-work of branches and 

 foliage, form a canopy overhead almost impene- 

 trable to the rays of the sun. 



When riding through its glades on a fine au- 

 tumnal evening, you might almost fancy yourself 

 carried back to the days of Robin Hood, and 

 expect every instant to see a goodly buck dart 

 across your path, followed by the outlaw himself 

 and " his merry men " in hot pursuit. 



I was indulging in some such reverie of " the 

 olden time," when my attention was attracted by 

 the appearance of a large raptorial bird about 

 thirty yards off, apparently devouring its prey at 

 the foot of a beech tree. So intently was it occu- 

 pied, that it either did not remark or disregarded 



