28 Account of the Kaatskill Mountains. 
neath. The summer is usually a little shorter, and vegeta- 
tion several weeks later ; but when spring commences, it is 
more rapid than near the Hudson. ‘The winters are so se- 
vere, and the frost so late, that peaches and several other 
fruits which grow luxuriantly near their base, will not ar- 
rive at perfection at the height of 2,000 feet. The fruits 
-which grow here, as well as the vegetables and grain, are 
from three to four weeks later, in coming to perfection, than 
near the village. 
The atmosphere of this mountain is very salubrious, as 
a current is blowing through some of the ravines, or from 
some of the peaks, ae most of the year. ‘This ventila- 
tion durmg the months of July and August, renders these 
mountains a fine retreat from the intense heat which is fre- 
quently experienced at their base. This salubrity is so 
great, notwithstanding the intense cold experienced during 
the winter season, that between J anuary ist, and the 28th of 
November, there had been but three deaths i in a population 
of one hundred families. 
Wild Beasts. 
These mountains abound with many wild beasts, some of 
which during the winter season, when they find it difficult to 
procure foe are dangerous. Bears* are often met with 
in the wild passes and cloves of the mountains. These an- 
imals are hunted down by the imhabitants of the town, and 
only when exasperated, or destitute of food, will they ven- 
ture to attack a man. Panthers are seldom seen at this 
time, though a few years since, they were numerous. They 
are very ferocious, and are not dispatched without great diffi- 
culty. The inhabitants relate to the stranger who: visits this 
mountain, such heroic achievements in ‘Panther hunting, 
as, if true, ought to entitle the victor to such a niche in the 
temple of fame, as General Putnam acquired by his contest 
with the wolf. Deer are found here in great numbers, and 
are hunted at-certain seasons of the year, but they are less 
aumerous than formerly. To prevent their extermination 
in this state, the Legislature have enacted. a law, making it 
a penalty to kill them during the summer months. 
* The guide who accompanied us to Stony Clove, has, since that time, 
as Ihave been informed, caught in a trap placed at the entrance of this 
elove, three bears and a wild eat. 
