User:Tripodero/Fearsome Critters (Reworked)

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Fearsome Critters is a collective noun coined in early lumberjack folklore for a category of mythical beasts that were said 'to inhabit' the frontier wilderness of Anglo-America.[1][2][3]

The hugag, a typical fearsome critter.

Origins[edit]

Fearsome critters were an integral part of oral tradition in North American lumber camps during the turn of the 20th century, [1] principally as a jest for hazing newcomers[4] or as a means to pass time (such as in tall tales.)[5] In a typical fearsome critter gag, a person would casually remark about a strange noise or sight they encountered in the wild; subsequently, another accomplice would join in. This is when a eavesdropper would begin to investigate, as Henry H. Tryon recorded in his book, Fearsome Critters (1939) —


“Sam would lead with a colorful bit of description, and Walter would follow suit with an arresting spot of personal experience, every detail being set forth with the utmost solemnity, and with exactly the correct degree of emphasis. At the end, so deftly had the cards been played that the listener was completely convinced of the animal's existence. This method of presentation is widely used. For the best results, two narrators who can "keep the ball in the air" are necessary, and perhaps an occasional general question is tossed to someone in the audience, such inquires being invariably accorded a grave, corroborative nod.”[4]

Lumberjacks, who regularly traveled between camps, would stop to swap stories in time spreading these myths around the continent.[5] Many fearsome critters were simply the products of pure exaggeration; while a number however, were used either seriously or jokingly as explanations for unexplained phenomenon. For example the hidebehind served to account for loggers who failed to return to camp,[6][7] while the treesqueak offered justification for strange noises heard in the woods.[4] A handful mirrored descriptions of temporal animals. The Mangrove killifish, which takes up shelter in decaying branches after leaving the water,[8] exhibits similarities to the upland trout, a mythical fish purported to nest in trees.[9] In addition, the story of the fillyloo, about a mythical crane that flies upside-down, may have been inspired by observations of the Wood Stork. A bird that has been witness briefly flying in this manner.[10] In particular instances more elaborate ruses were created utilizing taxidermy[11] or trick photography. [12]

Attributes[edit]

The character of the fearsome critters themselves was usually more comical than frightful.[1] Often with the greater emphasis being placed on behavioral traits, even if little or no detail is mentioned to physical makeup. (As evident by the hidebehind, teakettler,[13] squidgicum-squee,[14] and hangdown.)[6] Some like flittericks or the goofus,[7] were seemingly, in appearance, otherwise ordinaring animals that just behaved out of the ordinary. The more physically emphasized, rather improbable creatures seem to by distinguish by how far the storyteller could push the boundaries of biomechanics. Both the tripodero and log gar[6] demonstrate facets more incommon with mechanical apparatuses than known Zoology. Much of the literature that has been put forth on the subject echo a naturalist's perspective, commonly specifing: a range of distribution, behavioral habits, physical apperance, accompanied by pseudo-scientific classifications.[9][5][4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Dorson, Richard M. Man and Beast in American Comic Legend. (Bloomington, IN: Indiana Univ. Press, 1982.)
  2. ^ Leach, Maria. Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. (New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1949.)
  3. ^ South, Malcolm. Mythical and Fabulous Creatures: A Source Book and Research Guide. (Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1984.)
  4. ^ a b c d Tryon, Henry Harrington. Fearsome Critters. (Cornwall, NY: Idlewild Press, 1939)
  5. ^ a b c Cox, William T. with Latin Classifications by George B. Sudworth. Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods. (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler Inc., 1910
  6. ^ a b c Brown, C.E. Paul Bunyan Natural History. (Madison: self-published, 1935.)
  7. ^ a b Cohen, Daniel. Monsters, Giants, and Little Men from Mars: An Unnatural History of the Americas. (New York: Doubleday, 1975)
  8. ^ Derbyshire, David. (2007). “The fish that can survive for months in a tree.” Retrieved March 08, 2011, from MailOnline. Web site: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-488193/The-fish-survive-months-tree.html
  9. ^ a b Wyman, Walker D. Mythical Creatures of the USA and Canada. (River Falls, WI: Univ of Wisconsin Riverfalls Press,1978.)
  10. ^ Randolph, Vance. We Always Lie to Strangers: Tall Tales from the Ozarks. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1951.)
  11. ^ Wisconsinosity. (2010). “Barron County: The Friendly Buckhorn Bar.” Retrieved March 09, 2011, from Wisconsinosity.com. Web site: http://www.wisconsinosity.com/Barron/barron.htm
  12. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society. (2011). “Larger Than Life: Tall-Tale Postcards.” Retrieved March 09, 2011, from Wisconsin Historical Society. Web site: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/feature/talltales/
  13. ^ Borges, Jorge Luis; Guerrero, Margarita. Book of Imaginary Beings. (New York: Dutton, 1969.)
  14. ^ Schwartz, Alvin. Kickle Snifters and Other Fearsome Critters. (Binghamton, NY: Harpercollins Juvenile Books, 1978.)

External links[edit]


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