42 
FERNY COMBES. 
and stunted, clothed with hoary mosses and para¬ 
sitical plants. 
Not long ago we found numerous rabbit-paths 
along the branches of the trees. Do naturalists 
record the fact that rabbits frequent trees; or is 
it peculiar to those in Wistman’s Wood F 
Wise people say that Wistman’s Wood ought 
to be “Wise Man’s Wood,” in honour of the very 
clever and intellectual people who once resided 
there. Having a slight knowledge of the Devon¬ 
shire vernacular, we make so bold as to suggest 
that “whist” or “wist” signifies sorrowful,mourn¬ 
ful. Any one who has visited Wistman’s Wood 
can hardly fail to have been struck with the dole¬ 
ful moans and sighing which assail him on all sides 
(added to his own if he have a tumble, no unlikely 
thing), making him fancy that a regiment of Arch- 
Druids and Bards are bewailing the overthrow of 
their altars, the desecration of their circles, the 
standing still of their rocking-stones. 
In visiting Dartmoor from North Devon the bes 
route is through Torrington to Oakhampton. The 
former most beautifully situated on a steep bank 
overhanging the Torridge ; the latter in the pretty 
valley of the Ockment “ Under the Moor.” 
Oakhampton is a dull, deserted-looking place, 
but there are many sights in the neighbourhood 
