They again divide at the northern extremity of Thirty Deer Ridge, and running through two different vales again meet nearly opposite the Cat rocks -- so called for the abundance of wild cats that once frequented the hilL These animals, Van der Donck assures us, had skins resembling that of a lioness; and not unlike them in form, with the exception of short tails like a rabbit or hare.

After uniting here, the Sprain pursues a south-east course until it discharges into the Bronx, on the lands of Nathaniel Valentine. The waters of the Sprain were pronounced by the commissioners in 1S42, to be the purest in Westchester county. a A wolf was killed here as late as ISOS,

THE TOWN OF YONKERS. 655

This beautiful stream was long celebrated for its trout. Well may the lover of the sport exclaim with Cotton,

"None so briglit, So pleasant to the taste, none to the sight: None yield the angler such delight."

This fish begins to bite in March or April. Ver>- large sized trout have been caught here about the middle of March, and they continue till the months of July and August. They he, generally, under the shelter of stumps, bridges and stones.

The bait generally used in catching this fish, is the common earth worm. By connoisseurs, the artificial fly is preferred.

The north-eastern part of" this township is occupied by a high ridge of hills, called the Tuckahoe Hills. This portion of the town, originally formed a part of that large tract of land between the Saw Mill and the Bronxrivers, which was ceded by the Indian chiefs-- Scpham and others -- to Frederick PhiUipse, June 5, 16S4. Tradition says, that anciently, an Indian Sachem of that name had his residence on one of these hills, and exercised all auihority among the tribes of the neighboring valleys.