32 Geology, Mineralogy, Scenery, ^e. of the 



is ejected. Neither length of time, nor boiling will divest 

 an extracted fang of its venom. The poison of snakes is 

 more active and dangerous in warm, than in cold climates. 

 The flesh of the rattlesnake is regarded in some parts of 

 our country by epicures as a delicious dish. It has been 

 asserted by respectable naturalists, that rattlesnakes and cop- 

 perheads are the only venomous serpents of the northern 

 states, and that our impression of the poisonous character 

 of the adder and viper is derived from a misnomer of Amer- 

 ican snakes — but 1 have the most authentic testimony of 

 the deadly effects of the bite of Highland adders. That 

 they have fangs has been observed by well informed zool- 

 logisls. 



Vegetable productions. 



The Highland ridges are mostly in a state of nature. To 

 the east of the Hudson between the Fishkill and next High- 

 land range, a considerable district of cleared and cultivated 

 land appears. Adjacent to Hudson's bank almost every 

 accessible part has been stripped of its heavy timber, but 

 situations more remote exhibit thick forests of large trees 

 on the rock bound surface. 



Oak, walnut, beach, birch, ash, elm, sugar maple, is the 

 predominant timber. Pine, hemlock and cedar is scattered 

 through the forest adjacent to lakes and streams — on the 

 high points of ground, walnut and oak, are the most com- 

 mon trees. Shrub oak is frequently seen in the transition 

 Highland district which passes through Morris's County. Jt 

 occupies almost exclusively an extensive level interval situa- 

 ted in the north part of Succasunna plain, it attains the 

 height of six or eight feet, forming an entangled thicket. 

 The ground below is covered by numerous loose stones. 

 I travelled a considerable distance in narrow avenues cut 

 through this diminutive wood. 



Lakes and rivers. 



In the State of New-York, west of the Hudson, the High- 

 lands present several lakes from four to six miles in cir- 

 cumference, but the largest are observed in the centre or 

 transition part of the range which passes through New-Jer- 



