Strutt’s Sylva Britannica. 553 
no uncommon circumstance of bulls taking shelter within 
them; which these animals effect, not by going in and turning 
round, but by retreating backwards into the cavity till the 
head only projects at the aperture. The one I am about to 
particularise stands in the middle of a pasture, bears the most 
venerable marks of antiquity, gives the name compounded of 
itself and its situation to the farm on which it grows, viz. Oakly 
Farm, and was the favourite retreat of a bull. Twenty people, 
old and young, have crowded into it at a time. A calf being 
shut up there for convenience, its dam, a two-year old heifer, 
constantly went in to suckle it, and left sufficient room for 
milking her. It is supposed to be near a thousand years 
old” [we could readily believe it older}; ‘ the body is nothing 
but a shell, covered with burly protuberances; the upper part 
of the shaft is hollow like a chimney; it has been mutilated in 
all its limbs, but from their stumps arise a number of small 
branches, forming a burly head, so remarkable for fertility, 
that in years of plenty, it has produced two sacks of acorns 
inaseason.” Thusfar Mr. South. ‘ The dimensions,” says 
Mr. Strutt, “ of this venerable remnant of antiquity are, at one 
yard from the ground, l1yds. 1 ft.; one foot above the ground, 
13 yds. 1 ft.; six feet from the ground, 12 yds. 1 ft. ; broadest 
side, 7 yds. &in.; close to the ground, 18 yds. 1 ft. 7 in.; 
height of the trunk, about 4 yds. 1 ft.” Having ourselves 
visited this remarkable tree, and reclined in an idle hour 
under its shade, we may add that it has long since been care- 
fully fenced round with substantial posts and rails, and has 
had the two extremities of its projecting limbs supported 
from beneath by strong pieces of timber. These artificial 
appendages, creditable as they are to the noble owner, as 
proofs of his laudable regard for so interesting a piece of 
sylvan antiquity, have been (judiciously, we think) omitted by 
Mr. Strutt in his drawing ; since, however necessary they may 
be to preserve the tree from external injury, they form no true 
part of it, and add nothing to its picturesque effect, but, on 
the contrary, manifestly detract from the beauty of the object. 
We pass on to the Gospel Oak (fg. 136.), which is a bound- 
ary tree, situate at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, defining the 
extremity of that parish from the adjoining parish of Bagin- 
ton, Many an old oak, as well as other tree, bearing the 
like title and character, may still be met with throughout the 
country, 
“ Religione patrum multos servata per annos.’”’ * Virgil. 
* « By the religion of our ancestors, 
Preserved for ages.” Trapp’s Translation. 
Vor, tll; — No, 16. 00 
