NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly called " The Plestor." * In 

 the midst of this spot stood, in old times, a vast oak, with a short squat 

 body, and huge horizontal arms extending 'almost to the extremity 

 of the area. This venerable tree, surrounded with stone steps, and seats 

 above them, was the delight of old and young, and a place of much 

 resort in summer evenings ; where the former sat in grave debate, 

 while the latter frolicked and danced before them. Long might it have 

 stood, had not the amazing tempest in 1703 overturned it at once, to 

 the infinite regret of the inhabitants, and the vicar, who bestowed 

 several pounds in setting it in its place again : but all his care could 

 not avail ; the tree sprouted for a time, then withered and died. This 

 oak I mention to show to what a bulk planted oaks also may arrive : and 

 planted this tree must certainly have been, as will appear from what will 

 be said farther concerning this area, when we enter on the antiquities 

 of Selborne. 



On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called Losel's, of a 

 few acres, that was lately furnished with a set of oaks of a peculiar 

 growth and great value; they were tall and taper like firs, but 

 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 distinguished 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.f 



have been spindled up by the more vigorou 

 of thickness, and which in all probability would have been ultimately killed. 

 * 



s trees to great length and uniformity 

 ility 



Vide the plate in the antiquities. 

 t We have always found the raven, whether nesting upon a rock or upon 

 tree, most unapproachable after she had been disturbed or alarmed. 



