74 Some Observations on the Oak. 



little distance, resumed his menacing posture. This circum- 

 stance reminded me that in the single encounters of cats 

 there were also suspensions of arms. But the struggle was 

 not long in recommencing, with more fury than before, be- 

 tween our two tarantulas. One of them, after victory had 

 been a long time doubtful, was at length overthrown, and 

 mortally wounded in the head ; he became the prey of the 

 vanquisher, who tore open his skull, and devoured him. After 

 this murderous combat, I kept the victorious tarantula alive 

 for many weeks. 



] have been forestalled by Baglivi in the description of this 

 arachnomachy ; and, though he does not enter into any 

 detail, his suffrage upholds my observations. Here are the 

 words of this author : — "Si dua? solummodo tarantula? 

 in aliquo vase claudantur, altera alteram interficit et comedit 

 brevi temporis intervallo." {Baglivi, I.e., p. 356.) 



Aut. III. Some Observations on the OaJc, By Von Osdat. 



Behold the forest, and th' expansive verdure 



Of yonder level lawn, whose smooth shorn sod 



No object interrupts, unless the oak 



His lordly head uprears, and branching arms 



Extends. Behold, in regal solitude 



And pastoral magnificence he stands : 



So simple ! and so great ! the underwoods 



Of meaner rank an awful distance keep. 



If any pleasure can be called bright, beautiful, and tasting, 

 it surely is a love of nature, particularly of the green things 

 that clothe the earth's surface : the contemplation of them 

 gives a tone of health and freshness to the mind, and the cul- 

 tivation of them vigour to the body. They afford occupation 

 in our youth, and a delightful source of calm enjoyment in 

 our after years. They serve as living and lasting memoranda 

 of our pleasures and our sorrows; and, when the silent hand 

 of Time has " wede away " the companions of our youth and 

 the friends of our manhood, the trees we have planted remain 

 to us in all their increased and increasing loveliness and 

 beauty. It is an absolute duty, that every one should till his 

 paternal patch of ground : the size makes little difference in 

 the pleasure ; and the interest taken in this rational and 

 active enjoyment has a greater tendency to lead the feelings 

 to real and permanent happiness than many persons may 

 imagine. I have taken a fancy to three of our native plants ; 

 a tree, a shrub, and a flower : although all the others are 

 either beautiful or interesting, still, more particularly (in part, 



