CHAP. CV.

CORYI.A'CEiE. QUE'rtCUS.

1791

1629

'7W,+ : ,

S.&.J 7RVT7:

16110

undoubted lord of the forest. Beauty, united with strength, characterises allits parts. The leaves, elegant in their outline, are strongly ribbed, and firmlyattached to the spray, which, although thin and excursive, is yet bold and de-termined in its angles ; whilst the abrupt and tortuous irregularity of its mas-sive branches admirably contrasts with the general richness and density of itsclustered foliage. Even as a sapling, in its slender gracefulness it exhibitssufficient firmness and indications of vigour to predicate the future monarchof the wood ; a state, indeed, which it is slow to assume, but which it retainsper smcula longa ; and when at length it is brought to acknowledge the in-fluence of time, and becomes ‘ bald with dry antiquity,’ no other productionof the forest can be admitted asits rival in majestic and venerabledecay. The general form of theoak is expansive, luxuriant, andspreading. Its character, bothwith respect to its whole andto its larger masses of foliage, isbest expressed by the pencil, inbold and roundish lines, whetheras single trees, as groups (fig.

1630. ), or as forming the line ofa distant forest (figs. 1629. and _

1631. ); although, when growingmore closely together, they assume a loftier and less spreading appearancethan the more solitary tree, such as Mason has so beautifully described inhis Caractacus : —

— ‘ Behold yon oak,

How stern he frowns, and with his broad brawn arms

Chills the pale plain beneath him! ’ ”

The sketches figs. 1632. and 1633., which are also drawn by Mr. Strutt,will more distinctly exemplify his position; exhibiting, in distinct distances,the same general appearance in the contour of the trees. Of these sketches,

6 A