This timid animal, (says Van der Donck,) " always constructed its dwellings over running streams, having apertures in the lower stories which communicated with the water from which they could more easily retreat under water to places of safety which they have always prepared near their houses ; these consist of a hollow or hole entwining under water from the side of the stream whereon their house was erected, and adjoining under the bank into which they retreat on the approach of danger, wherein they seem to be safe and secure that no person can molest them. Eighty thousand beavers (the same authority asserts,) were killed

=1 Heath's Mem. p. 268. b Heath's Mem. p. 274.

c 11th May, 1772, John Farnam conveys to James Holmes a lot of land lying in Bedford near a place called Aspetong. d Report of water commissioners.

30 HISTORY OF THE

annually, during his residence of nine years in the New Netherlunds."a

The beaver's favorite food was the bark of the willow, birch, and maple trees which still flourish on the banks of the Cisqua, (Beaver dam.) Rising above the banks of this stream on the west is an extensive ridge called the " Deer's delight."

It appears that the old road laid out to the vineyard purchase in 1739, " extended north from Harris's mill at the west side of Cantetoe ridge on the east side of " deer's delight," and so through to the purchase.^

Deer must have been very numerous here in 1656, for the same authority just quoted says " the land abounded with them every where, and their numbers appear to remain undiminished ; we seldom pass through the fields without seeing deer more or less, and we frequently see them in herds ; there are also white bucks and does, and others of a black colour.