b Mohegan River.

e " Shaila, in the cognate dialect of the Odjibwa, means a pelican." " Uc is the ordinary inflection for locality "-^Mr. Schoolcraft's Paper, Proceedings of N. Y. Hist. Soc 1844. " The great white pelican (P. trachyrhyncus) was formerly numerous on the Hudson and other rivers and lakes of this State. At the present dayit has entirely disappeared, and I do not know of its existence even as an accidental visitor."-- Nat. Hist, of N. Y., by James de Kay.

INTRODUCTION. xi

A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY.

In givino;- a history of the County, it appears proper to begin with a recital of the act framing the same, entitled " An Act to divide the Province of New York and dependencies into Shires and Counties, (fcc."

"Having taken into consideration the necessity of dividing the Province into respective Countys, for the better governing and settling courts in the same, be it enacted by the Governor, Council and the Representatives, and by the authority of the same, that the said Province be divided into twelve Countys as followeth : The County of Westchester to conteyne West and Eastchester, Bronx-land, Ford ham, Anne Hook's Neck, Richbells, Miniford's Islands, and all the land on the maine to the eastward of Manhattan's Island as farre as the government extends, and the Yonkers' land, and northward along Hudson's River as farre as the Highland."

"This bill havingr been three times read before the Governor and Council, is assented to the first of November, 1683."^