[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] whales, of common size, swam up the (Hudson) river forty (Dutch) miles, from which place one of them returned and stranded about twelve miles from the sea, near which place four others also stranded the same year. The other ran farther up the river and grounded near the great Chahoes Falls, about forty-three miles from the sea. This fish was tolerably fat, for, although the citizens of Bensselaers-wyck broiled out a great quantity of train oil, still the whole river (the current being rapid) was oily for three Aveeks, and covered with grease." His accounts of the native animals of the country, excellent for the most part, become amusing in places where he relies not upon his individual knowledge but upon vague stories told him by the Indian hunters of strange creatures in the interior. Thus, he makes New Netherland the habitat of the fabled unicorn. " I have been frequently told by the Mohawk Indians," says he, " that far in the interior parts of the country there were animals, which were seldom VAN DER DONCK's MAP OF NEW NKTHERLAND. 112 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY seen, of the size and form of horses, with cloven hoofs, having one horn in the forehead from a foot and a half to two feet in length, and that because of their fieetness and strength they were seldom caught or ensnared. I have never seen any certain token or sign of such animals, but that such creatures exist in the country is supported by the concurrent declarations of the Indian hunters.