Highlands of New-York and New- Jersey. 31 



presented from its summit, of a rich, well-cultivated lime- 

 stone valley fourteen miles in v\ridth situated in Orange and 

 Sussex Counties. The soil is well adapted for wheat, 

 which is abundantly raised. Beyond this interval the Shu- 

 ongunck mountain is seen in connection with the blue ridge 

 ranging the western horizon for fifty miles. 



Animals. 



The wild beasts of the forest, though not so numerous as 

 formerly, are found in most parts of the Highlands. Wolves 

 at times have been very troublesome to the farmers of New- 

 York and New-Jersey. The wolves of America are less 

 ferocious than those of Europe. Travelling in the Py- 

 rennees, Alps, and Appenines, is often rendered dangerous 

 by these animals. The wolves of our country are put to 

 flight by the presence of man. When taken in a pit or trap, 

 they become submissive attempting no defence. Bears 

 are more common than wolves in the Highlands and moun- 

 tainous regions of this country. Excepting when they have 

 cubs or are wounded, they have rarely been known to attack 

 the human race. They are very tenacious of life. Bears sub- 

 sist principally on vegetable food. The lynx and wild cat are 

 common in the Highland forests. Deer are frequently seen 

 in the New- York section of the Highlands, but are far more 

 numerous in New-Jersey. Foxes, rabbits, raccoons, and 

 opossums are plenty, otters are often killed in the mountain 

 waters. The wild cat is a powerful, active, and destructive 

 animal, fearlessly invading settlements, carrying away the 

 lesser domestic animals. 



The poisonous reptiles most common are the rattlesnake 

 and copperhead. Rattlesnakes are numerous in the transi- 

 tion mountains of New-Jersey. They find convenient dens 

 in the masses of gray wacke at the base of the mural precipi- 

 ces. A farmer residing in Newfoundland valley in the vi- 

 cinity of Mount Rafienberg, informed me that he seldom 

 killed near his house, fewer than twenty rattlesnakes in a 

 season. Rattlesnakes if unmolested, rarely attack a pass- 

 ing traveller. The copperhead is more spiteful, and its bite 

 equally dangerous. The poison of snakes taken internally, 

 is harmless. Venomous serpents are known by their fangs 

 or sickle-shaped hollow teeth, through which a deadly fluid 



