4 2 



the following from Bolton 4 : Between two and three miles 

 northwest of the village of South Salem lies Lake Wacabuck 

 (Long Pond) a beautiful sheet of water covering over two 

 hundred and twelve acres of ground. * * * Lake Wacabuck 

 was once famous for the abundance of its beavers. It is 

 upwards of fifteen years since, that the last solitary hermit was 

 observed upon the edge of the lake. This animal had been 

 noticed at different intervals throughout the summer of 1832. 

 In the fall of that year a laboring man (residing near the lake) 

 determined upon securing it if possible. For this purpose he 

 took his station early one morning in the vicinity of one of 

 the Beaver's haunts. It soon made its appearance, and com- 

 menced felling a small tree, which it drew to the water's edge ; 

 but the man, who had refrained from firing in order to watch 

 the motions of the animal, making a slight noise, it became 

 alarmed, and suddenly plunged into the water. It is said 

 that the same animal was observed in the fall of 1837.' 



Mus musculus Linn. House Mouse. 



Like the two preceding species and the English Sparrow 

 (Passer domesticus), this is another importation for which the 

 nation has no reason to feel proud. Its depredations about 

 the house and in the fields are too well known to require 

 further comment. 



Mus decumanus Pallas. House Rat. 



This is the common rat of the county and seems to have 

 been introduced here from Europe during the Revolutionary 

 War (DeKay 6 ). It has since spread with wonderful rapidity, 

 adapting itself to circumstances wherever found, be it in the 

 house or in the fields. 



Mus rattus Linn. Black Rat. 



The Black Rat, now probably extinct in Westchester 

 County, was the first to be introduced here from Europe and 



