NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



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. 



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 distin- 

 guished by the title of the Raven 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 their grasp, that the most 

 daring lads were awed, and acknowledged the undertaking to be too 

 hazardous : so the ravens built on, nest upon nest, in perfect 

 security, till the fatal day arrived in which the wood was to be 

 levelled. It was in the month of February, when these birds 

 usually sit. The saw was applied to the butt, the wedges were 

 inserted into the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy blow of 

 the beetle or malle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall ; but still 

 the dam sat on. At last, when it gave way, the bird was flung from 

 her nest ; and, though her parental affection deserved a better fate, 

 was whipped down by the twigs, which brought her dead to the 

 ground.* 



* We have always found the raven, whether nesting upon a rock or upon a tree, most 

 unapproachable after she had been disturbed or alarmed. 



