OAK-TEEE. 99 



England, and which exceeded in magnitude even the 

 famous larch, that was brought to Rome in the reign of 

 Tiberius, as recorded in Pliny's f Natural History / and 

 the tree against which the arrow of Tyrrell glanced in the 

 New Forest. This tree, memorial of the death of Rufus, 

 which has fallen to decay and is replaced by a stone 

 monument, presented a remarkable natural phenomenon, 

 similar to that of the Glastonbury thorn, and the Caden- 

 ham oak, near Lyndhurst, in the New Forest : namely, 

 that of being distinguished for more than two centuries 

 for budding every year in the depth of winter, and, 

 according to the testimony of the foresters, on old Christ- 

 mas day, and then only. Notwithstanding the robust 

 character of this kind of forest tree, and its proverbial 

 strength, it is materially affected by the different strata 

 through which the roots penetrate; and on this principle 

 only can we account for the striking diversity that is 

 frequently apparent, both in the season of leafing and the 

 colour of the foliage. 



