208 BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



wilds of Hancock. The Neversink lays 

 open the region to the south, and also joins 

 the Delaware. To the east, various Kills 

 unite with the Big Ingin to form the Esopus, 

 which flows into the Hudson. Dry Brook 

 and Mill Brook, both famous trout streams, 

 from twelve to fifteen miles long, find their 

 way into the Delaware. 



The east or Pepacton branch of the Dela- 

 ware itself takes its rise near here, in a deep 

 pass between the mountains. I have many 

 times drunk at a copious spring by the road- 

 side, where the infant river first sees the 

 light. A few yards beyond, the water flows 

 the other way, directing its course through 

 the Bear Kill and Schoharie Kill into the 

 Mohawk. 



Such game and wild animals as still lin- 

 ger in the State, are found in this region. 

 Bears occasionally make havoc among the 

 sheep. The clearings at the head of a val- 

 ley are oftenest the scene of their depreda- 

 tions. 



Wild pigeons, in immense numbers, used 

 to breed regularly in the valley of the Big 

 Ingin and about the head of the Neversink 

 The tree-tops for miles were full of their 

 nests, while the going and coming of the 



