88 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
second letter to Pennant has doubtless served to allure 
many a young naturalist over the somewhat barren wilder- 
ness of the opening chapters. 
" On the Blackmoor estate," he says, " there is a small 
wood, called Losel's, of a few acres, that was lately fur- 
nished 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 repairs that were fifty feet long without a 
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 with 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 neighbour- 
ing 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 
