CHAP. CV.

CORYLA'CE.®. QUERCUS,

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“ But while,” continues Mr. Strutt, “ as an entire object, these curved linesare sufficient to express the general peculiarity of the outline of the oak, aswell as the larger masses of its foliage, when we come to examine the treemore closely, and in detail, we find that a greater variety of line must beadopted to display its singular proportions, so indicative of energy and bold-ness. The trunk and limbs are characterised by their amazing strength, andby their comparative shortness and crookedness; and the branches, by theirnumerous contortions and abrupt angles, and by the great variety which theyexhibit of straight and crooked lines; and by their frequent tendency to ahorizontal direction. These striking peculiarities are exemplified in Jig. 1635.”

“ Not unfrequently, however, the forms of the limbs and branches are en-tirely concealed by the exuberancy of foliage, as is the case in the BoundsPark Oak, and more particularly in that magnificent living canopy — nullipenetrabilis astro , impervious to the day, — the Chandos Oak, at Southgate,[see p. 1763.], which, although not exactly a painter’s tree, is unquestionablyunrivalled for regular beauty and plenitude of shade. The oak, also, is oc-casionally found to present an extremely graceful and pleasing figure, as is

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