A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



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 Mo- 

 hawk. 



Such game and wild animals as still linger 

 in the State are found in this region. Bears 

 occasionally make havoc among the sheep. 

 The clearings at the head of a valley are 

 oftenest the scene of their depredations. 



Wild pigeons, in immense numbers, used 

 to breed regularly in the valley of the Big 

 Ingin and about the head of the Neversink. 

 The treetops for miles were full of their 

 nests, while the going and coming of the 

 old birds kept up a constant din. But the 

 88 



