MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 817 



List of Feral (wild) Exotic (imported) Species found in Pa. and N. J. 



Swine, " Razor Back." Sus scrofa Linnaeus. 

 Sheep. Ovis aries Linnaeus. 

 Cattle ; Kine. Bos taurus Linnaeus. 

 Horse. Equus caballus Linnaeus. 



The above 4 species of domestic animals, brought over by the early 

 colonists to N. J., in many places were left to shift for themselves, and soon 

 became quite as wild as the native deer with which they associated. In 

 some instances they were liberated on the large maritime beaches or islands 

 on the southeast coast of N. J., which formed natural confines for them 

 throughout the year. On these they were hunted, slaughtered or captured 

 alive as animals gone wild. The same remarks apply to the " Plains " of 

 Burlington Co., N. J., where pig and cattle hunts were once a periodical 

 cause of sport and excitement, and even in the last 20 years live stock has 

 been rounded up and shot in the "Plains" as the only means of securing it. 

 Owing to the degeneration of stock thus running wild in early days, as also 

 on account of trespass, the early colonists framed many laws regulating these 

 abuses. I am indebted to Mr. Francis B. Lee, of Trenton, for the following 

 researches along this line : 



"There is one phase of animal life in Colonial West Jersey which, whilst 

 not strictly relating to the native forest beasts, forms an interesting phase in 

 the history of state /(2«;7ax. The island beaches which stud the coast from 

 Cape May to Barnegat were from early days pasturage grounds for domesti- 

 cated animals ; which being neglected by their owners, in time became actually 

 fercB naturce. Such were the wild cattle of Avalon, Cape May county, on the 

 beach variously known as Leaming's, Tatem's and Seven Mile, or upon the 

 strand known as Ludlam's Beach. The owners of these beaches, branding 

 their cattle and sheep by " ear-marks," placed the animals thereupon and 

 their neglected descendants have only within the past decade been extermi- 

 nated, as have been the buffaloes. 



Aaron Learning 2nd. of Cape May, in a manuscript record of 17 71 thus 

 alluded to the question of cattle grazing : The animals were tirrned on the 

 beach from the "shore" "about the middle of October, and brought off 

 about the middle or last of June, and live without hay or any care taken of 

 them, and when they are not disturbed by gunners or other trespassers, do 

 very well." 



The great woodlands lying to the eastward of the Delaware river settle- 



