USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 1 > Part 38
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Deer herd together, from September to March or April, when they separate. The female generally brings forth her young in April-she usually has two, sometimes three. The male is called the buck, and the female, the doe-the latter has no horns. The deer feeds upon grass, leaves, twigs, and the tender branches of trees. It is easily tamed. It, however, is very mischievous, and will roam at large, unless confined with- in a very high enclosure. It is very timid, and never defends itself unless driven to the last extremity. When closely pursued by hunters and dogs, it betakes itself to some neighbouring lake or river, for safety. The meat of the deer is considered a great delicacy.
The hunters, in the new settlements, bordering the forests, kill great numbers every year. In half a century, very few, if any, will remain. None are now to be seen in the old settle- ments, some on Long Island excepted.
Half a century ago they were to be seen in herds within a mile or two of the Mohawk river ; but now there are none.
In the winter the hunters in the new countries often avail themselves of crusts, when these animals break through, and are unable to fly, and destroy whole flocks. The destruction, on these occasions, is wanton, since neither their meat nor skins are worth much.
In 1762, these animals were so numerous in Queen's and Suffolk counties, that they were taken in pits. The legislature, VOL. I.
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in December, the same year, passed a law to prevent taking them in this way.
The panther, in form, resembles the domestic cat. Its length from the nose to the root of the tail, is from five to six feet, and its height from two feet, to two feet four inches, and its circumference from two to two and a-half feet. The tail is from two feet and a-half to three feet long. It has a round head, shaped much like that of the cat-the eyes are large, the ears short and pointed. Its nose is broad, and the upper lip furnished with whiskers.
Its paws are armed with strong nails. The colour of the head, neck, back, sides, and tail, is a yellowish grey, bordering on red, and the belly and breast a light grey, inclining to white. The ground colour is red, interspersed with some grey hairs. .
The panther is fierce, active, and strong, and when attacked by hunters and dogs, makes a desperate defence, fighting to the last. It subsists on deer, and other animals, which it seizes and kills. Like the lion, and others . belonging to the feline . tribe, it does not pursue its game, but conceals itself in the grass, or in some thicket, and darts upon it as it approaches or passes by. It sometimes ventures out of the forest and kills cattle, sheep and hogs. When pursued by hunters it commonly climbs a tree where it remains till shot.
The species is not numerous, and is mostly confined to the northern and western forests. There are some, however, still remaining in the Kaatskill, Broome and Tioga mountains.
The panther is a solitary beast, generally inhabiting the most gloomy recesses of the forest.
These animals retire as settlements are made ; and as they are not very prolifice, it is likely, that half a. century hence, none of them will remain in the State. Hitherto, every at- tempt to domesticate this animal has proved abortive.
The panther can endure long abstinence. In winter, he is often greatly emaciated, in consequence of not finding game.
This animal, with us, is improperly named. The panther of Asia and Africa is much larger, and more ferocious, and of a
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different colour. In New England, the animal which we call the panther, is called the catamount, and in Siberia the ounce. ' On the first settlement of the counties of Orange, Ulster and Dutchess, and for a long time thereafter, panthers were in such . numbers, and committed such extensive ravages, that bounties were given to those who killed them. In 1753, the legislature of the colony of New York, passed an act to revive and con- tinue one which was then about expiring, and which had pre- viously been passed for the destruction of wolves and panthers. The act seems to have been confined to those counties. Putnam and Rockland were then integral parts of Dutchess and Or- ange. The same act was renewed in 1759, and was to con- tinue to 1765. At the same time, the act providing for the de- struction of wild cats, in Suffolk, was continued for the like period.
The lynx is an inhabitant of the forest situated between the Mohawk and St. Lawrence rivers. Its size is usually that of a moderately large dog. Its hair is long, of a light grey colour, forming, in some places, small irregular dark shades-the end of its tail is black. Its fur is soft, fine and thick. The tail is about five inches long. It lives on deer, hares, rabbits, and other ani- :mals, which it takes by stratagem. Its howling greatly resem- bles that of the wolf. It ascends trees when pursued by hunters. The lynx is remarkable for its ears being long and erect, and · tufted at the end with long black hair. It is extremely fero- cious, and cannot be tamed.
This animal is the lupus cervarius of Linnaeus. It is rarely seen. In former times it inhabited almost every part of the State. Like other animals of the feline tribe, it is solitary and unsocial. It easily overcomes the largest dog in single conflict. · The kincajou is about as large as a domestic cat ; its tail equals its body in length. It dwells in the north part of the State. Its colour is yellowish. The kincajou is supposed to be of the feline tribe. It is very active and fierce. It climbs trees from which it darts on the smaller animals as they pass by.
The wild cat, the catus cervarius of Linnaeus is considerably less than the lynx. Its length, from the point of its nose to the
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insertion of its tail, is from two to two feet and a-half, and its height about fourteen or fifteen inches. The tail is three or . four inches long. Its body is thick, its neck short, its head large, its muzzle square, its eys large, and its ears erect. Its paws are furnished with long nails. Its hair is brown, sallow and grey, variously intermixed, forming a brindle colour.
It lives in sequestered places, and takes its prey by stealth. It ascends trees and rocks.
There are only a few remaining in the State. They are" rarely seen, cxcept in the western and northern forests.
The wild cat, when overtaken by dogs, defends itself with great resolution to the last.
The black cat is less than the preceding. It is a distinct species. It weighs from sixteen to twenty-three pounds. It is active, strong and fierce in combat ; its colour, as its name in- dicates, is black ; it is untamable ; the fur is valuable ; it in- habits the northern forest. The Indians call it the wollaneeg.
Wild cats were so numerous in the county of Suffolk, that the assemby, in 1756, passed a law, fixing a price for every one that should be killed. The rate for the old was one dollar, and the catlings half a dollar per head.
Bear-There appears to be two species, both are black, but different in their forms and habits. The one has long legs, and the other short; we shall confine our description to the former.
The black bear, denominated by naturalists, the ursus Ame- ricanus, is a very large and formidable animal. Its height, when full grown, is nearly three feet four inches, and its length from the point of its nose to its posteriors, from five to five and a-half feet. The body is round, the neck and head long and tapering, the nose pointed, and its cars small and erect. The body of the bear rises somewhat in the form of an arch. Its feet are armed with sharp claws, and capable of grasping somewhat in the manner of a hand, which enable it to climb with great case the loftiest trees-with its forepaws it can strike a heavy blow. It can rear itself on its hinder feet, and seizing its enemy, can squeeze him to death. It is carnivorous, but can subsist
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on vegetables. It kills young cattle, swine, and other animals, which it eagerly devours. In new settlements, it enters wheat and corn fields, and devours considerable quantities. The fe- male generally has two cubs at a litter, which keep with her during the season.
Towards the end of autumn, the bear retires into a hollow tree, den, or cavern, where it remains during the winter months (with some few exceptions) in an inactive state, requiring very little, or no food, without, however, experiencing the transition to torpidity. This state may be termed quiescent, since res- piration goes on as at other times. .
The bear is easily domesticated. In this State, when the cold weather commences, he will, on being set at liberty, col- lect materials, and form a bed in some sheltered place, and be- take himself to it, and continue there till spring. During this time it usually makes its appearance once or twice, in order to drink some water. If chained, it takes nourishment and exer- cise like other animals. The quiescent state, however, seems to be most agreeable to its habits. The bear, when at liberty in the forest, occasionally, during thaws, which occur every winter, ventures out and sometimes makes excursions of several miles. Only a few years ago, two or three of these animals made their appearance in the vicinity of a small village, on the Sorel, in Lower Canada, during a thaw, as the public papers announced.
Wolverene, called in Canada the carcajou, and by hunters the beaver-eater, is supposed to be merely a variety of the glutton. Its length, exclusive of its tail, which is eight or nine inches, is about two feet, and the circumference of its body, about two feet six inches. Its legs are short and thick, and its feet and paws large and strong.
Its hair is long and coarse ; its head is a sallow grey ; jis back almost black ; its breast spotted with white ; its sides and rump a light reddish brown ; its belly a dark brown, and its tail black and bushy. It has a clumsey appearance, and cannot run fast. It burrows in holes which it forms in the earth.
The wolverene is corniverons, It is susceptible of domesti-
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cation. The wolverene, at the close of autumn, retires to its den, where it continues quiescent till spring.
The raccoon, in its general form, has some resemblance to the fox, but it is much larger. The length of its body is about two feet and a-half; its tail is long and bushy ; its legs short and thick, and its feet are armed severally with five sharp claws. The shape of its head is very much like that of the fox. The colour of the body is greyish, with annular stripes passing from the back to the belly ; the tail is ringed.
In some the colour is yellow and brown, in alternate stripes. It is agile and sprightly ; ascends and descends trees.
Its food consists of mast, corn, fowls, &c. It is easily domes- ticated, and becomes a familiar companion. It is, however, too mischievous to be allowed to run at large.
It lodges in hollow trees, and seldom ventures out, except at night. At the beginning of cold weather, in autumn, it betakes itself to the hollow of some trec, where it stays in a quiescent state, during the rigours of winter, never venturing out unless it be towards the close of a thaw. During its quiescence it con- tinues in a state of abstinence.
The raccoon, when kept in a warm room during winter, receives food, is active, lively and playful, and shows no dispo- sition for the quiescent statc.
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The fisher is from twenty to twenty-four inches in length, and about twelve in circumference. Its tail is little more than half its length, and is bushy. Its fore legs are from four to five inches long, and its hind from six to seven. Its ears are short and round. The colour of the body and tail is black ; the head, neck and shoulders are grey. It lives on squirrels, mice, birds, and other small animals. It is found in the northern forest.
In Canada this animal is called pekan. 'The fisher occa- sionally pursues its prey into the water. They commonly live near streams, ponds, and lakes.
The Wolf-There are two varieties, the grey and the black. The latter inbabits the northern forest, but is seldom seen. The grey originally inhabited the whole State. At present it is rarely seen, except in the northern and western forests, and
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some mountainous districts. The wolf is a very noxious animal. In form it very much resembles the dog. Its usual length, from the end of its nose to the root of its tail, is about three feet, its height is from two feet two inches to two feet four inches, and its girth about two feet eight inches. The wolf sometimes is much larger. The head is long, the nose pointed, the ears sharp and erect, the neck short and muscular, the body thick, the legs large and strong, the teeth long and sharp, and the eyes vivid. It is very ferocious and sanguinary. It kills deer, foxes, rabbits, sheep, calves, young cattle, hogs, and every other kind of animal, which it can master. Sometimes they go in packs, and attack flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle. But of all animals the sheep seems to be the object of their peculiar choice. These they attack and slaughter without pity or re- morse, even after they have glutted their voracious appetite, seldom desisting before they have destroyed the whole flock. The wolf seldom shows itself during the day. It is very pro- lific, producing nine or ten at a time. The period of gestation is about three months and a-half. The young whelps are found from the first of May till July.
The common method practiced by hunters, to take this ani- mal, is by trapping. It is sometimes taken in pits.
The dog (canus indicus) is about as large as a fox, but taller and of a slender make. Its nose is pointed, and its ears erect. It does not bark. We have seen several. They do not pre- sent such diversities as the imported.
Capt. John Smith, in his voyage, &c., says, " there are dogs in Virginia-that they are like wolves. They cannot bark, but they howl. In size they do not much exceed the fox. This was in 1606."
For-Of foxes, we have four species-the red, the grey, the cross, and the black fox. We shall treat of each in its order.
The red fox is the most common, and is found in every part of the State.
The length of a full grown one exceeds two feet, exclusive of the tail, which is about fourteen inches. Its height is about one foot, and weight twenty pounds. Its body is long, its tail
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large and busby, its head is small, its nose sharp, and its cars large, pointed, and erect. The colour is rather a yellow than a red.
The red fox is prolific. It subsists ou squirrels, mice, birds, fowls, and such other animals as it can vanquish. In the culti- vated country, it makes frequent incursions into barn-yards, and kills the poultry, which it carries away. These incursions are usually made at night, and are conducted with great foresight 'and sagacity. The skill of the fox, in the construction of its mansion, ranks it among the higher orders of quadrupeds. He burrows under firm earth, and often where, the roof of his dwell- ing is prevented from falling in by the wattling of the roots of trees. His subterraneous residence is generally extensive, and he provides to it several avenues for his convenience and se- curity. In the selection of a place, he prefers the southern or eastern side of an eminence, or hill. The fox is not unfrequent- ly observed, in fine weather, to quit his retreat and bask in the sun.
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The fox is susceptible of a considerable degree of domestica- tion, but is so mischievous, in poultry yards, that he cannot be permitted to run at large. When, however, he has been in- dulged with this privilege, he has seldom, or never failed, to regain his liberty.
The grey fox resembles the red, in form and magnitude, and appears to differ from it only in colour, which is a beautiful sil- ver grey. Nature, however, has not endowed it with so much swiftness and cunning, as she has the red.
The cross fox resembles the latter, in form and magnitude, but has a black streak, passing transversely, from shoulder to shoulder, with another along the back, to the tail. The other parts of this animal are of a red, or more generally, of a grey colour.
The black fox, which is the largest and most valuable of all, is very rare, and never seen, except in the northern forest. Its fur is fine, soft, and rich, and in great estimation. In form, ha- bits, and disposition, it has a strong likeness to the preceding.
The weasel is rather larger than the red squirrel. It is about
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eight inches in length, from the end of the nose, to the insertion of the tail, and about two inches in height. The tail is about three inches long, and bushy. Its body is slim, its neck long, its head small, and its eyes sparkling. 'The colour of its body , is red or brown, and its belly white. Its hair is fine, soft, and delicate to the touch. It is very active, sprightly, and coura- geous. It ascends trees, walls, and houses, with the same fa- cility that the red squirrel does. The female bears from three to five at a time.
The weasel is a native of the woods. It subsists on birds, squirrels, mice, &c .- it sometimes makes its appearance in barns and houses, where it takes up its abode. On such occa- sions it wages an exterminating war against rats and mice, and even hens, ducks, and other small fowls. The night is the time it selects for its operations.
The ermine is the most beautiful quadruped in our forests. In form, dimension and habits, it has a strong resemblance to the weasel, but it is larger, being ten or eleven inches long. The colour of its head, neck and body is white ; its tail is tip- ped with black. Some, however, have a stripe of brown or mouse colour, extending along the back, from the head to the tail. Its fur is very fine, soft and delicate. The ermine lives in woods and thickets, and lodges in hollow trees. It kills mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds, &c. and either sucks their blood or devours them.
The martin is a very beautiful animal. It dwells in the most sequestered parts of our forests, and is rarely seen in the im- provements. It is carniverous, and subsists on rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds, and other small game. The martin is nocturnal, and seldom makes its appearance in the day. It ascends trees, and lives in the hollow part of the trunk, where it makes a nest with leaves, moss, &c. The female has commonly three or four young at a litter. The martin is capable of domestication, but always when indulged with freedom, returns to its native solitudes. The ordinary weight of the martin is about four pounds ; some exceed five pounds, but instances of this kind are rare.
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The usual length of the martin is eighteen or twenty inches, exclusive of the tail, which is eight or ten inches. Its body is long and sleuder; its head is small and elegantly formed ; its eyes are lively ; its ears are broad, round and open ; its legs are short; its feet are broad, and its nails large and sharp. The colour of the body is yellow, with a brownish tinge along the back ; the tail is brown, and in some instances black ; the throat and breast are white. The colour of the martin varies in different countries. Those taken in Canada are darker than those taken among us.
The fur is fine, soft and downy, and is highly prized for muffs, tippets, &c. &c.
The sable is rather larger than the martin, to which it bears a strong similitude. Its form, gait, and habits are so nearly allied to the latter, that some have confounded them together. The colour is a brownish black, and the darker the more va- luable. Its feet are broad and furnished with claws. It has large whiskers. The sable possesses much vivacity and great agility. It dwells along the banks of rivers and streams, and on the shores of lakes and ponds, selecting dark shady places. It climbs trees, and leaps from branch to branch. Its food con- sists of birds, mice, squirrels, rabbits, &c. It inhabits the northern forest, or that forest situated west of Lake Champlain, and between the Mohawk and St. Lawrence rivers.
The skunk is about as large as a cat, but differs very mate- rially in shape, disposition and habits. Naturalists have classed it with animals belonging to the weasel tribe. Its body is slen -.. der, its legs are short and thick, and its tail is long and very. bushy. 'The head, neck and shoulders are small and tapering, the nose sharp, the eyes sparkling, and the ears rounded and erect. Its hair is long, coarse, and chiefly black ; but on its head, neck and back, there is more or less white; without re- gularity or uniformity. It resides mostly in the woods near clearings, but occasionally comes out and takes up its residence under barns, sheds and other buildings, where it is tolerably se- cure from danger, from whence it sallies out by night, and com- mits depredations among the poultry. These its kills and
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carrys off to its retreat. In the woods it lives on birds, mice, frogs and insects. ' The female produces every year, and ge- · nerally has five or six at a litter.
The skunk, when attacked, emits the most loathsome, subtle and penetrating fluid in nature. This fluid is contained in two vesicles situated near the anus, and is its only defence against the larger beasts of the forest. . The panther, the lynx, the bear, the wolf and the fox seldom intermeddle with it. Few dogs will venture to attack it, on account of the extremely of- fensive smell, and such as do, are commonly seized with vomit- ing. A single discharge will infect the air on all sides, for the distance of a mile or more. If the clothes of a person should happen to be spattered with it, it would be impossible to extract it, without burying them in the ground for several days. The smallest drop infects a whole house, for weeks or months ; so very subtle is the fluid.
"The skunk seldom or never ejects this fluid, but when assail- ed by its enemies.
See Medical Repository for an account of the dissection of one . of these animals, by Dr. Mitchell.
The otter is classed, by naturalists, among amphibious quad- rupeds. Its length, when full grown, is from four to five feet, exclusive of the tail, which is ten or twelve inches more. Its body is long and slender, and shaped somewhat like that of the weasel; its head is rounded and slightly flattened in front ; its ears are very short ; its neck is short, and equals its head in thickness ; . its tail is broad at the insertion, very strong and pointed, and almost depressed ; its hind feet are placed very near the tail. The eyes, which are small and lively, are placed nearer the nose than in other quadrupeds. Its legs are short, strong, broad and muscular ; each foot i's furnished with five toes, con- nected by webs, which aid it in swimming. The joints are so loosely articulated that it can turn them quite back, and bring them on a line with the body, and use them as fins. It swims so fast that it easily overtakes fish. Its colour is a dark brown, approaching a black. The otter differs in size and colour in different countries. In Canada it is larger, and of a
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darker colour than it is with us ; in Pennsylvania it is smaller and of a lighter colour.' The fur is finer and richer in the north than in the south.
The otter is carniverous, voracious, strong, active and fierce. There are few dogs but what it can vanquish in single combat. Its food consists of fish, frogs, mice, and generally every animal which it can seize. It dwells along the banks of rivers, creeks and lakes, and burrows either in holes which it digs in the banks, or in hollows worn under them by the wa- ters. It is very difficult to take it unless by trapping. The female is said to be in heat in the winter, and to bear her young in the spring. The litter generally consists of three or four.
Otters were formerly numerous along many of our rivers, creeks and lakes, but at present there are very few, and these are rarely seen. Their skins are in high demand, and always find a ready sale. The otter is occasionally seen along the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, and their tributaries.
The mink approaches animals of the amphibious kind. It always resides in the vicinity of a river, a stream, a lake or pond, where it provides for itself a habitation in the ground. Its length, including its tail, which is six or seven inches long, is about twenty-two or twenty-three inches. The body is slen- der, the legs short, thick, muscular and strong, and its feet are armed with claws. Its colour is a dark brown, inclining to black. Its fur is in considerable repute.
The mink weighs from three to four pounds. Its food con- sists of mice, rats, frogs, squirrels, birds, &c. The mink, when it resides near farm houses, kills goslins, chickens and young ducks, and sometimes hens. The female has usually two or three at a litter. Those residing on the sea coast are larger than those in the interior.
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