USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 4
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Wild grapes are represented by four species, of which the large fox grape ( Vitis labrusca, L.) is said to be excellent for pre- serves. It is the original stock from which the Isabella and other cultivated varieties have sprung. V. aesticalis, Michx. and V. cordifolia, Michx., known as " frost grapes," are com- mon everywhere, the small black fruit being ripe late in autumn. The second named frequently attains a large size, climbing to the tops of the highest trees and becoming very thick at the base. A magnificent vine formerly grew in the ravine near the Kellet place, measuring 1 ft. 11 in. in circum- ference at a distance of about two feet from the ground. It was ent in two a short time ago, apparently for mere wanton de- struction, and all traces of it will soon be obliterated. The "Virginia creeper" (Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Michx.) and "bitter sweet " (Celastrus scandens, L.) are rapidly gaining favor as ornamental vines for houses and fences. The autumnal tints of the first are unsurpassed by any other plant, and the bright orange and scarlet berries of the latter remain nnchanged almost throughout the entire winter. The Chinese honeysuckle has escaped from gardens in places and may be seen climbing over trees and bushes, apparently perfectly at home. Such plants no doubt started from pieces thrown out in rubbish heaps. The wild honeysuckle or "woodbine " is quite common and is sometimes seen in cultivation. The " trumpet vine " is thoroughly established in fields and along hedge rows from Tottenville to Prince's bay, near the beach. Ipomea pandurata, Meyer, sometimes called "wild potato vine" and " man-of-the-earth," is common at Tottenville, es- pecially in the pine groves. The flower resembles a convolvulus. and the root is sometimes as large as a man's arm. It is deeply buried in the ground, however, and requires considerable digging to extract it.
"Catbrier" is common everywhere, forming dense and im- penetrable thickets in places, affording fine cover for birds and small animals. The few game birds and rabbits that yet remain on the island owe their existence to this plant more than to almost any other cause. Clematis Virginiana, L., commonly called "clematis" and "virgin's bower," is extensively gath- ered for household decoration in the autumn, when the bunches of feathery tailed seeds are ripe. Another species of clematis (C. ochroleuca, Ait. ) is abundant on Todt hill and near Rich-
28
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
mond. It is a low plant. about a foot or two in height, bearing heads of feathery seeds similar to the first mentioned. It is one of Staten Island's characteristic plants, as it is very rare in other parts of the United States, being known in but few localities, mostly in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Botanists from all over the country have made trips to Staten Island to collect specimens, and they are now contained in nearly all the large herbaria of the land. Another plant, rare elsewhere, is the "mouse-ear chickweed" (cerastium oblongifolium, Torr.) It grows in company with the latter, especially on and near Todt Hill, in the rear of the Moravian parsonage. About the latter part of May the flowers are in full bloom, forming conspicuous white tufts and masses. This locality will well repay a visit at this season of the year, as "bird's foot " violets and the delicate little "bluets " are at their best about the same time. and all grow in luxuriance together.
" Trailing arbutus " or "Mayflower" was, and is yet, abund- ant from Eltingville to Tottenville, near the salt water. Un- fortunately its location is known to many people in both New York and Brooklyn, who organize "arbutus parties " every year and carry it away by basketfuls. There is no doubt that the near future will see its entire extermination if the present rate of destruction continues. It is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring, generally showing itself before April. and sometimes during the first week in March. Other early flowers are the " liverwort," which is common everywhere, and the " whitlow grass" ( Draba rerna, L.), which is particularly abundant at Tottenville. In the warm sandy soil of the latter place it is sometimes in bloom during February, and may fairly be considered as our earliest spring flower. In company with it grows the "crane's bill ( Erodium cicutarium, L. Her.). This plant has been found in blossom there during every month of the year, the late flowers frequently holding on throughout the winter until the new blossoms appear in the spring. " Blood- root " is abundant in several restricted localities. which are fortunately not well known, and as the plant is in blossom very early it is out of bloom and inconspicnous before people are likely to be rambling through the woods. It grows well in the garden and might become a favorite. The common " water cress " has been introduced in several of the water courses and
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
thrives finely. Certain parties have for years been in the habit of gathering it for sale.
The violets, so familiar to all, number twelve species and va- rieties, all common, with the exception of Viola tricolor, L .. car arcensis, which is the immediate ancestor of our garden pansy. A species of cactus (Opuntia vulgaris, Mill. ) is common at Tot- tenville and South beach, and also sparingly on Todt hill. It readily bears transplanting, and is a beautiful object when in full bloom. Dypsacus sylvestris, Mill., the common " teasel," is thoroughly established along roadsides near Garretson's and Bull's Head, and in the brick yards at Green Ridge. The pres- ent plants are doubtless the offspring of those that were culti- vated years ago when the hand-weaving of cloth was a home industry.
It will probably surprise some people to know that the island possesses nineteen species and varieties of "golden rod " and twenty-five asters. Many of these are well worthy of cuitiva- tion. but are too common to attract more than passing attention. In England, however, they are highly appreciated, and many of these species may be seen there adorning the gardens. Wintergreen grows in certain small patches, but is not abund- ant and does not seem to fruit very freely.
One of the most gaudy plants is undoubtedly the so-called "painted cnp" (Castilleia coccinea, Spreng ). It is very abundant in the Clove lake swamp. but has not been found else- where. Both the yellow and red grow side by side. Several other rare plants make this place their home, among which may be mentioned the "grass of Parnassus" (Parnassia Car- oliniana, Michx.) and the orchids Calopogon pulchellus, R. Br., and Pogonia ophioglossoides, Nutt. For many other plants, likewise, it is a favorite spot, and has quite a reputation among botanists as a favorite hunting ground.
The common "cranberry " is abundant in certain peat bogs near Richmond, and appears sparingly near Clove lake. It is likely soon to be exterminated in both localities, in the latter owing to a rise in the level of the water, and in the former on account of the drainage of the swamps. Its flourishing condi- tion at Richmond suggests the possibility of utilizing the peat bogs for its culture.
It is a noteworthy fact that nearly all our worst weeds are plants that have been introduced and are now naturalized. Among
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
these may be mentioned Galinsoga parviflora, Cav., which was unknown here a few years ago. but has already become a nuisance in many places. Its advent is so recent that. although very abundant, no common name has yet been given to it. The eleven species of Chenopodium and Amaranthus, known as "wormseed," "pig weed," "prince's feather," etc., are familiar objects in all waste places. rubbish heaps, and cultivated grounds. They are all introduced plants.
"Mistletoe" has been reported, on good authority, from the neighborhood of Clifton, but no specimens have been pre- served and it has not recently been found. Twenty-four species of orchids, several very rare, are known to occur here. The "ladies' slipper" (Cypripeduim acaule, Ait.) is the most con- spicuous and is very abundant at Tottenville, Watchogue and one or two other points. 'The "crane fly orchis" ( Tipularia discolor. Nntt.) is abundant in most of the deep woods, but is so inconspicuous as to escape general attention. The so-called " screw plants" belong here, of which there are four species, two of which are worthy of mention. They occur only at Tottenville and are not very common there. These are Spiran- thes simplex, Gray. and S. gramirea, Lindl. car Walteri, Gray.
The rushes and sedges number about ninety, and the grasses about one hundred and twenty species. The ferns show twenty-eight species, of which the rarest and least known is probably Cystopteris fragilis, Bernb. It is confined to a little rocky valley near Egbertville. "Maiden's hair" is everywhere abundant, as is also the common "shield fern," which is evergreen. The "scouring rush" ( Equisetum hyemale, L.) is abundant at Tottenville on the bluff overlook- ing Raritan bay. There are five species of "club moss" or "lycopodinm," so well known as "ground pine" and used for Christmas decorations. They are, however, none of them suf- ficiently abundant to be of any economical valne.
The herbarium from which the original catalogue and appen- dices were compiled is now in the possession of the Natural Science Association, and is one of the most complete local herbariums in the country. Lists of the lower forms of plant life (Mosses, lichens, &c.) are in course of preparation by different members of the Natural Science Association, but it will take many years yet to make them complete.
Years ago the island was frequented by deer. foxes and some
31
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
other large animals, and within the last half century foxes have been known. but none of these animals are now known to live wild upon the island. At the time of the revolution it is said there were plenty of foxes and raccoons, and some opossums. Not many years after the war the last deer known to be upon the island were shot. Forty years ago the skunk abounded, and about that time a mink was caught in the act of making a raid upon a poultry yard. Wolves were also among the trouble- some animals during the early years of settlement here. The records tell us that about the close of the seventeenth century the county paid a premium on all wolves that were caught. An entry before us shows that in 1698 Thomas Stillwell received fifteen shillings for a wolf and Cornelius Tysen received one pound for a wolf's head. Different bounties were offered for animals of different sex and age, as was the custom in many counties of the state. By this means those animals were soon exterminated. The mammalia now known to the island are weasels (least and common), mink, skunk, moles (common and star-nosed and mole shrew ), gray and flying squirrels, chipmunk. jumping mouse, Norway rat, common, house and deer mice, muskrat, rabbit, brown, red, hoary and silver black bats.
The following list, prepared by Mr. Arthur Hollick and his indefatigable associates, represents that part of the bird fauna of Staten Island which is known to have nested here within the past fifteen years. Several species not in the list would no doubt have been included had it been compiled a quarter of a century ago, and there is a probability that continned careful search will reveal others. The value of this list will be appre- ciated by those who have noticed the gradual disappearance of some of the island species, and the scarcity of others that were formerly abundant. We omit the scientific names from this list
Robin, wood thrush. brown thrush, mocking bird, cat bird, blue bird, tufted titmonse, chickadee, house wren, long-billed marsh wren. short-billed marsh wren, summer yellow bird, oven bird, Maryland yellow-throat, yellow-breasted chat, scarlet tanager, barn swallow, white-bellied swallow. eave swallow, cedar bird or wax-wing. red-eyed hang bird, white-eyed hang bird, yellow bird. sea-side finch, sharp-tailed finch. swamp sparrow, song sparrow, chippy, field sparrow, English sparrow, indigo bird. cardinal grosbeak, chewink, bob-o-link. cow bird.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
red-winged blackbird, meadow lark, orchard oriole, Baltimore oriole, crow blackbird, common crow, fish crow, blue jay, king bird, great crested flycatcher, phobe bird. peewee, least fly- catcher, night hawk, chimney swallow, ruby-throated humming- bird, belted kingfisher, black-billed cuckoo, yellow-billed cuckoo, downy woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker or high- older, golden-winged wood screech owl, sharp-shinned or pigeon hawk, red-shouldered hawk, fish hawk or osprey, wild pigeon, quail, woodcock, teeter-tail or peep, shytepoke, and clapper rail or mud hen.
Coming down to the lower orders and lesser wing creatures we have the following list of butterflies which have been captured on the island. This has been kindly furnished us by Mr. William T. Davis, to whose labors in this department of nat- ural history we are indebted for its compilation. The list though not supposed to be entirely complete comprises:
Papilionidae .- Papilio Philenor, L. Papilio Asterias, F. Papilio Troilus, L. Papilio Turnus, L. Papilio Turnus, dini. var. Glaucus, L. Papilio Cresphontes, Cram. Pieris Protodice, Bd-Lec. Pieris Oleracea, Bd. Pieris Rapae, L. Colias Philo- dice, Godt. Colias Philodice, var Alba. Terias Nicippe, Crain. common in 1880, saw none before or since. Terias Lisa, Bd.
Nymphalidae .- Danais Archippus, F. Argynnis Idalia, Drury. Argynnis Cybele, F. Argynnis Myrina, Cram. Ar- gynnis Bellona, F. Euptoieta Claudia, Cram. one specimen, Clove Valley, C. W. Butler. Melitaea Phaeton, Drury. Phy- ciodes Tharos, Drury. Grapta Interrogationis, F. Grapta In- terrogationis, var Umbrosa, Lintn. Grapta Comma, Harr. Grapta Comma. var Dryas, Edw. Grapta Progne, Cram. Grapta J Album. Bd .; one specimen, New Dorp, Miss M. Brit- ton. Vanessa Antiopa, L. Pyrameis Atalanta, L. Pyrameis Huntera, Drury. Pyrameis Cardui, L. Junonia Lavinia, Cram. Limenitis Ursula, F. Limenitis Disippus, Godt. Neonympha Eurytris, F. Neonympha Canthus, L. Satyrus Alope, F.
Lycaenidae .- Thecla Hnmuli, Harr. Thecla Calamis, Hüb. Thecla Smilacis, Bd .; C. W. Leng. Thecla Henrici, Gr. Rob. Thecla Niphon, Hub, Watchogue. Feniseca Tarquinius, G. Chrysophanus Americana, D'Urban. Lycaena Pseudargiolus, Bd-Lec. Lycaena Pseudargiolns, var Violacea, Edw. Lycaena Pseudargiolus, var Lucia, Kirby. Lycaena Pseudargiolus, var Neglecta, Edw. Lycaena Comyntas, Godt.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Hesperidae .- Ancyloxypha Numitor, F. Pamphila Massa-
soit, Scud. Pamphila Zabulon, Bd-Lec. Pamphila Zabulon, dim. var. Pocohontas. Pamphila Sassacus, Scud. Pamphila
Pontiac, Edw. Pamphila Otho, var Egeremet. Pamphila Peckius, Kirby. Pamphila Mystic, Edw. Pamphila Cernes, Bd-Lec. Pamphila Metacomet, Harr. Pamphila Verna, Edw. Pyrgus Tessellata, Scud. Thanaos Brizo, Bd. Thanaos Juven- alis, F. Pholisora Catullus, Cram. Eudamus Pylades, Seud. Eudamus Lycidas, Sm-Abb; one specimen, Clove Valley. Eu- damns Tityrus, F.
Mr. Davis has also furnished us with the following list of the reptiles and batrachians of the island. In geographical distri- bution some of the reptiles are almost confined to the Cretaceous and those portions of the island covered by marine alluvium. C. Pennsylvanicum seems to be restricted to the shallow pools near the salt water. It occurs near New Dorp, Richmond Val- ley station and Watchogue. Ophibolus triangulus is a rather scarce serpent on the island. Ranahalecina, though found in other portions of the island, is much more common on the marsh land near Watchogue. The species of Diemyctylus have only been observed in the hilly districts. In 1881 the "spade foot " frog made its appearance in some numbers, but it has not since been seen. No copperheads or rattlesnakes have been found.
Reptilia .- Testudinata; Cistndo clausa, Nanemys guttatus, Chrysemys picta, Malacoclemmys palustris, Cinosternum Penn- sylvanicum, Chelydra serpentina, Chelonia mydas: Ophidia: Heterodon platyrhinus, Tropidonotus sipedon, Storeria dekayi, Entaenia saurita, E. sirtalis, Bascanium constrictor, Liopeltis vernalis, Diadophis punctatus, Ophibolus doliatus triangulus.
Batrachia .- Anura; Rana halecina, R. palustris, R. clami- tans, R. temporaria, Scaphiopus holbrookii, Hyla versicolor, HI. pickeringii, Acris gryllus, Bufolentiginosus: Urodela; Diemy- ctylus viridescens, D. miniatus, Desmognathus fusca, Hemida- ctylium scutatum, Plethodon erythronotus, P. glutinosus, Spelerpes bilineatus, S. ruber, Amblystoma opacum , A. puncta- tum.
The waters about the island have from time immemorial abounded with living creatures of value to the inhabitants. To the aborigines the abundance of clams and oysters was a con- sideration that attracted thousands hither. Seals frequently have been seen about the bay, and whales have been known to
3
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
enter and pass through the Narrows, up the river. Van der Donck tells us that in 1647 two whales of common size swam np the river forty miles. and one of them on its return stranded about twelve miles from sea. The other he says ran farther up and grounded near the " great Chapoos falls." As late as 1841 a whale was seen sporting between the Narrows and Governor's island, and another is reported as entering the bay some five or six years later. The menhaden or moss-bunker abounded in these waters, and was formerly nsed in large quantities for fer- tilizing the soil, the fishing commencing on the sonth shore in June. Thirty or forty years ago these fish were sold to farmers in large quantities at 75 cents a thousand. Soon afterward the business of extracting the oil from them sprang up, and this use being more profitable the price was increased until it became about four times the one mentioned. This practically placed the fish beyond the reach of the farmer. Clams are found in large numbers along the shores of the island. The Great kills was formerly noted for these bivalves. Some peculiarities in the soft clams found at different points along the shores have been noticed by those who have studied the subject. These va- riations are attributed to the different conditions of the beach upon which they are found. From New Brighton to the mouth of the Narrows, where the shore is rocky, the clams are only of moderate size, the ends being often broken and the outside of the shell corrugated. On the sandy beach of the southi shore, which is open to the sea, the shells are very thin and of even growth. All the lateral and transverse markings are com- plete, the shells often very beautiful in form and color, and here the largest specimens are found. About a half-mile south- west of the " Elm Tree Light" the shore is composed of salt meadow or peat, which is supposed to be too hard for the free development of well formed shells. hence the clams found there exhibit more deformities and are often more rounded in shape than those found elsewhere. Beyond Seguine's point, however, the shore resembles in character that of New Brighton, and the clams also correspond to those of that shore. The oyster growth and habits will be more particularly noticed in connec- tion with that industry.
Many traces of the savage occupants have been found upon Ithe island. These are most common along the shores from Prince's bay around to Watchogne. Shell heaps are found
1
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
that indicate that the work of wampum manufacture and the preparation of clams and oysters for food was carried on in those localities. The two most fruitful localities in affording Indian relics are perhaps Tottenville and Watchogue. Hun- dreds of implements have been found, some mixed up with debris of the shell heaps and others scattered over the fields. These implements consist of net-sinkers, hammer stones, axes, arrow-heads, mortars, pestles, beads, anvils, and others the use of which is unknown. Arrow-heads were found by the bushel, being turned up by the plow in most of the fields. Indian burying grounds have been discovered near Tottenville, and isolated remains at other points. In these interments various implements accompanied the bodies, among which were arrow- heads such as were used in war, those being distinguishable from the arrow-heads used in hunting. Nearly all the arrows found about the fields are of the latter kind. Among the objects of special interest are discoidal and shuttle shaped per- forated stones, supposed by some to have been intended as ceremonial implements of some kind, and by others to have been for the practical purpose of shaping bow-strings by draw- ing the soft material back and forth through the small holes. The discoidal stones have the opposite flat faces either ground roughly or polished, and are of hard quartzite. The only shuttle-shaped stone found is composed of soft banded slate. As no material of this kind exists here it is supposed that this specimen had been brought from Ohio or Illinois, where similar objects had been found. Evidences of fire places have been noticed in several of the shell mounds, specimens of cracked and partly fused stone having been found. In some of the stones the surface was entirely fused into a glass-like slag. One of the most striking curiosities of this nature, however, is the stone head found near Clifton in 1884. This was unearthed by Mr. James Clark, in the latter part of February, while dig- ging up the root of a blue huckleberry bush which he intended to use in the manufacture of rustic basket work. It lay about eighteen inches under the soil at a point two to three hundred feet east of the railroad track, and near the Fingerboard road, at the edge of a low dense swamp. In digging with a pick, that instrument struck the stone and turned it up. The material is a brown sandstone, apparently more compact than the common New Jersey sandstone, and composed almost entirely of grains of
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
quartz with an occasional small pebble. The head is seven inches high, four inches through the cheeks and six inches from the tip of the nose through to the back of the head, and its weight is about eight pounds. The nostrils are one and seven-eighths inches across their base and the eyes are one and a quarter inches long and five-eighths wide. They are raised in the cen- ters and have a groove running around close to the lids. A round hole one-fifth inch deep had been drilled in the lower part of the nose, in the space between the two nostrils, evidently for the purpose of fastening an ornament, and both nostrils were hollowed out to some depth. The cheeks, in their lower part, are sunken in a very curious manner, causing the cheek bones to stand up very high. The forehead is low and retreats at an angle of sixty degrees. A trace of what had been or was to be the ear was noticeable on the right side. The back and upper parts of the head are almost entirely rough and unworked, as thoughi the image had never been finished, or else was only a part of some larger figure. The surface is rough and slightly weathered, the cheeks, forehead and chin having single grains of sand apparently raised above the surface as if by age and exposure. The features are too well cut for a common off-hand piece of work by a stone maker. The style is not Egyptian or Eastern, so it does not appear that it could have been thrown out here by any sailor or other person who had ever brought it from across the ocean. It is said to bear some resemblance to the Mexican, and still more to the Aztec style of work. The spot where it was found is and has been within the memory of man an unfrequented wild, remote from any habitation, and the soil in which it lay is a compact sandy clay of light brown color, in which a stone like this might lie buried for centuries without much disintegration.
But we must draw this chapter of description to a close; but in doing so we cannot refrain from introducing the beautiful poem by James Burke, entitled "The Isle of the Bay," which so aptly describes the island whose history we are about to notice :
Up from the waters that come as the daughters Of Neptune, the lord of the wide spreading main, Bringing with pleasure, love, homage and treasure To lay on the altar of Liberty's Fane,- Rises serenely, resplendent and queenly, As far-famed Atlantis, in Hercules' day,-
Sweet Staten Island, of valley and highland, So fair that we name her the Pride of the Bay !
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Summer caressing, while breathing the blessing
A mother invokes on her daughter, a bride, Her miniature mountains and silver-spring fountains Are dimpled and rippled with beanty and pride. Valleys are smiling with pleasures beguiling, And terrace-like hills from her shores roll away ; Green are the meadows and cool are the shadows Of grottoes and groves in our Isle of the Bay.
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