BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



THE region of which I am about to speak 

 lies in the southern part of the State of New 

 York, and comprises parts of three counties, 

 Ulster, Sullivan, and Delaware. It is 

 drained by tributaries of both the Hudson 

 and Delaware, and, next to the Adiron- 

 dac section, contains more wild land than 

 any other tract in the State. The moun- 

 tains which traverse it and impart to it its 

 severe northern climate belong properly to 

 the Catskill range. On some maps of the 

 State they are called the Pine Mountains, 

 though with obvious local impropriety, as 

 pine, so far as I have observed, is nowhere 

 found upon them. " Birch Mountains " 

 would be a more characteristic name, as on 

 their summits birch is the prevailing tree. 

 They are the natural home of the black and 

 yellow birch, which grow here to unusual 

 size. On their sides, beech and maple 

 abound ; while mantling their lower slopes, 

 and darkening the valleys, hemlock formerly 



