o may arrive: and planted this tree must certainly
have been, as will appear from what will be said farther concerning this
area, when we enter on the antiquities of Selborne.

On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called Losel's, of a few
acres, that was lately furnished 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 the repairs that were
fifty feet long without 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 into 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 neighbouring 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 acknowledged 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 these birds usually
sit. The saw was applied to the butt, the wedges were inserted into the
opening, the woods echoed to the heavy blow of the beetle or mall or
mallet, the tree nodded to its fall; but still the dam sat on. At last,
when it gave way, the bird was flung from her nest, and, though her
parental affection deserved a better fate, was whipped down by the twigs
which brought her dead to the ground.

LETTER III.

The fossil-shells of this district, and sorts of stone, such as have
fallen within my observation, must not be passed over in silence. And
first I must mention, as a great curiosity, a specimen that was ploughed
up in the chalky fields, near the side of the Down, and given to me for
the singularity of its