232 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
an irregular and tortuous course, through undulating forest to Fairmead 
Bottom, and away beyond, first to the north and then to the east, through 
woodland covered by stunted forms of oak, hornbeam, and beech, until the 
eastern limits of Little and of Great Monkwood are reached—woodlands of 
rare beauty, with goodly forms of oak and birch, and thickly spreading 
underwood. And now the ride continues its course along the remainder 
of the forest glades of Loughton, the home of the Epping deer, where oak 
and holly, hornbeam, beech, and birch, picturesque but stunted, form the 
prevailing woods. 
“ Circuitously now the ride leads on by the upland sides in the woods 
of Loughton and Theydon Bois, turning first easterly, then northerly, then 
westerly, and approaching the road to Epping, runs near it by woods of oak 
and beech, wild apple, birch, and holly. On by Ambresbury Banks, the 
site of the camp of the warrior Queen of ancient Britain; through Epping 
town; and on to the Lower or Great Epping Forest, round which it sweeps 
with a bold curve, ending at Thornwood Common, a course of nearly fourteen 
miles, including many a scene of sylvan beauty.” 
But the most attractive feature of Mr. Heath’s book is his 
treatment of the distinguishing characteristics of trees. Avoiding 
strictly scientific descriptions, he points out clearly and simply 
the peculiarities of each species, and illustrates his remarks on 
the form and venation of the leaves with accurately drawn figures. 
There are eight coloured plates of the leaves of sixty so-called 
‘forest trees,’ several of which, however, can only be so styled 
by a courtesy akin to poetic license. ‘These plates are carefully 
copied from photographs which reduced the specimens to half their 
natural size, and appealing as they do directly to the eye, furnish 
the reader with the readiest means of identifying the species of 
any tree with the name of which he may be previously un- 
acquainted. ‘The idea is a good one, and we wonder that it has not 
before been adopted. We do not doubt that these illustrations, 
viewed in connection with the author’s remarks on the growth, 
structure, development and uses of trees, will do more to instruct 
the public than many a more pretentious work on the subject. 
The book will teach people how to use their eyes, and will enable 
many to derive a pleasure and a profit from their country walks, 
which, for want of method in their observations, they have hitherto 
been unable to realize. 
