THE TOWN' OF POUNDRIDGE. 123 



fall, which occasioned some to fail into the hands of the enemy. We immediately 

 collected some of the militia, and begun to pursue the enemy, following them be- 

 low North Castle church. They moved off with such greal precipitation, that 

 we could ii"t comeup with them. Before the enemy moved off, they burnt the 

 meeting house at Poundridge, and the dwelling house of Benjamin Hays, at 

 Bedford. They (as usual) plundered most of the houses they came to, and set 

 fire to several houses which were fortunately extinguished. Our loss on this 

 occasion, was ten wounded, eight missing and twelve horses missing. The 

 enemy's loss, one killed, wounded uncertain, four prisioners four horses taken, 

 and one ditto killed." 



The general surface of Poundridge, is uneven, and much cf it stony; 

 but having a due admixture of arable, with pasture and meadow lands, 

 it forms a tolerably productive agricultural township. The soil consists 

 principally of a gravelly loam, and is well adapted to grass and pastur- 

 age. It is also excellent for orchards and fruit trees of all kinds. The 

 growth of wood consists of white, red and black oak, hickory and chest- 

 nut. See. The northern portion of the town is occupied by a steep and 

 lofty ridge of mountains, called the " Stoney Hills," which runs princi- 

 pally in a northeast direction for the space of three or four miles. The 

 sides of these craggy mountains, intermixed with stunted trees and 

 bushes, exhibit a variety of fantastic forms, presenting one of the wildest 

 scenes in Westchester county. Here was a fine cover for the wild game 

 that once abounded in these solitudes. At the base of these steep and 

 rocky hills are luxuriant valleys, clothed in verdure and watered with nu- 

 merous streams — the principal one of which is denominated " Stoney Hill 

 brook," having its rise in Marshall's swamp. In the rear of N. B. Adam's 

 residence, on the South Salem road, is a precipitous declivity in the 

 mountains, nearly two hundred feet high, called the " Raven's Rock ; " 

 where, amid the stony ledges, the ravens used to build their nests of 

 yore. The racks here form almost a semi-circle, and bid defiance to the 

 most daring climber, or trapper. This gloomy spot is still the favorite 

 resort of the screech owl and crow. " These birds, but especially the 

 owl, occupies places of honor and importance in the religions of Greece 

 and Rome. Every note of the hideous and dismal owl, were invested 

 with significance. The screech of this creature was regarded as a fatal 



presage : 



•• When screech owls croak upon the chimney top, 

 It's certain then you of a corse shall hear." 



The raven was also supposed to feel the shadow of coming calamity. 

 The croak of this bird portended death. It is stated that one of these 

 gloomy birds premonished Cicero of his approaching death. Crows were 



