THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. igy 



scent from the famous Capt. John Underbill, High Constable of the 

 North Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long Island. 



The woods of Teller's Point afford a safe retreat for thousands of 

 crows, (corvus corone Linn.) which here, unmolested and unwatched by 

 the cruel farmer and gunner, have from time immemorial enjoyed an 

 extensive "roost." 



The canting, living crow 



Whose birth was in their tops, grew old and died, 



Among the branches, till at last they stood 



As here they stood, mossy, tall and dark, 



Fit shrine for humble worshipper to hold 



Communion with his maker. — Bryant. 



Daily towards sunset, may be seen approaching this sylvan abode, 



' ' The blackening train of crows to their repose. " 



— Burns. 



When the Croton dam gave way in the fall of 1840, the wild, hurry- 

 ing torrent — as it approached nearer and nearer — is said to have sent a 

 savage roar through these woods, causing the very watch-dogs to howl 

 with fear. 



A large fish pond lying east of Dr. Underhill's residence, is conjectured 

 to have originally formed the bed of the Croton river, from the fact that 

 trunks of trees have been discovered four or five feet beneath its muddy 

 sediment. 



The southern declivities of the Point towards the Croton Bay are 

 covered with extensive vineyards of Catawba and Isabella. The table 

 land also embraces luxuriant orchards and vineyards. The whole of the 

 latter cover nearly an area of forty acres. 



Two thousand one hundred and fifty-four shad, and seven thousand 

 herring, having been taken at single lifts in the adjoining waters. Dur- 

 ing the winter season, vast flocks of coot and black duck frequent the 

 shores of the Croton and Haverstraw Bays. 



There are numerous Revolutionary incidents connected with Croton 

 or Teller's Point deserving of notice. It was off the western extremity 

 that the Vulture, sloop of war, came to anchor on the morning of the 

 21st of September, 1780, having brought up Andre for the purpose of 

 holding an interview with Arnold ; a and here she expected to have await- 

 ed his return — but soon after the spy had embarked for the opposite 

 shore, a barge filled with armed men from the Vulture, was seen ap- 

 proaching Teller's Point; whereupon, George Sherwood and John Pat- 



a See Greenburgh. 



