8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



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 distinguished by the title of the 

 Kaven 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 acknow- 

 ledged 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 those birds usually sit. 

 The saw was applied to the butt, — the wedges were inserted 

 into the opening, — the woods echoed to the heavy blows of 

 the beetle or mall 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. 



LETTER III. 



The fossil-shells of thi^ district, and sorts of stone, such as 

 have fallen within my observation, must not be passed over 

 in silence. And first I must mention, as a great curiosity, 

 a specimen that was ploughed up in the chalky fields, near 

 the side of the down, and given to me for the singularity of 

 its appearance, which, to an incurious eye, seems like a 



