Fearsome critters

In North American folklore, fearsome critters were tall tale animals jokingly said to inhabit the wilderness in or around logging camps,[1][2][3] especially in the Great Lakes region. Today, the term may also be applied to similar fabulous beasts.

The hugag, a typical fearsome critter. Illustration by Coert DuBois from Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods by William T. Cox.

Origins

Fearsome critters were an integral part of oral tradition in North America logging camps during the turn of the twentieth century,[1] principally as a means to pass time (such as in tall tales)[4] or as a jest for hazing newcomers.[5] In a typical fearsome critter gag, a person would casually remark about a strange noise or sight they encountered in the wild, and another accomplice would join in with a similar anecdote. Meanwhile, an 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 inquiries being invariably accorded a grave, corroborative nod.[5]

Lumberjacks, who regularly traveled between camps, would stop to swap stories, which eventually disseminated these myths across the continent.[4] Many fearsome critters were simply the products of pure exaggeration; however, a number were used either jokingly or seriously as explanations for both unexplained and natural phenomena. 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.[5] A handful whether intentionally or unknowing mirrored descriptions of actual animals. The mangrove killifish, which takes up shelter in decaying branches after leaving the water,[8] exhibits similarities to the upland trout, a legendary 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 witnessed briefly flying in this manner.[10] In particular instances more elaborate ruses were created using taxidermy[11] or trick photography.[12]

Attributes
Game miniatures depicting various fearsome critters (from the board game Fearsome Wilderness)

The character of the fearsome critters themselves was usually more comical than frightful.[1] Often the greater emphasis is placed on behavioral traits with little or no detail mentioned on their appearance, as in the cases of the hidebehind, teakettler,[13] squidgicum-squee,[14] and hangdown.[6] Some fearsome critters like flittericks or the goofus[7] appeared to be ordinary animals that just behaved out of the ordinary. The more physically emphasized and improbable creatures seem to be distinguished by how far the storyteller could push the boundaries of biomechanics. Both the tripodero[6] and snoligoster[4] demonstrate facets more in common with mechanical apparatuses than animals, and the hugag and sidehill gouger[5] seem to be more a play on applied physics than fanciful inspiration. While much of the literature that has been written on the subject echoes a naturalist's perspective, commonly specifying a range of distribution, behavioral habits, and physical appearance,[4][5][9] many of these myths were never as widespread as others. Consequently, it is common to find a lack of consensus on a specific fearsome critter, if not clear contradictions. To illustrate, the wampus cat differs widely in appearance depending on region. For instance, in Henry H. Tryon's Fearsome Critters, the wampus cat is described as having pantographic forelimbs[5] while in Vance Randolph's We Always Lie to Strangers, it is portrayed a supernatural, aquatic panther.[10]

The tendency to description of behavior without image is used to eerie literary effect by Manly Wade Wellman in employing a number of fearsome critters in his 1952 science fiction folk tale "The Desrick on Yandro," as well as commenting specifically on the lack of physical description for one of the beasts: "The Behinder flung itself on his shoulders. Then I knew why nobody's supposed to see one. I wish I hadn't. To this day I can see it, as plain as a fence at noon, and forever I will be able to see it. But talking about it's another matter. Thank you, I won't try."

Firsthand accounts

In his 1939 book, Fearsome Critters, Henry H. Tryon recounted that "... much true folk-lore was born, lived and died with no chance of ever becoming a part of our permanent records. Without doubt this has happened to a good bit of woods lore." Consequently, firsthand records on fearsome critters are few in number. However, among some of the more significant sources to record fearsome critter stories directly from loggers, hunters and other forest tradesmen, listed chronologically, are:

  • Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods, With a Few Desert and Mountain Beasts, by William T. Cox (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler Inc., 1910)
  • Fearsome Critters, by Henry H. Tryon (Cornwall, NY: Idlewild Press, 1939)
  • The Hodag and Other Tales of the Logging Camps, by Lakeshore Kearney (Madison, WI: Democrat Printing Company, 1928)
  • Paul Bunyan Natural History, by Charles E. Brown (Madison, WI: self-published, 1935)
  • We Always Lie to Strangers, by Vance Randolph (New York: Columbia University Press, 1951)
  • Mythical Creatures of the USA and Canada, by Walker D. Wyman (River Falls, WI: Univ of Wisconsin Riverfalls Press, 1978)

Additionally, in 1922 and 1925, veteran guide Art Childs published an illustrated newspaper column entitled, Yarns of the Big Woods that featured fearsome critters from oral traditions. Many of the aforementioned texts has since been made freely available online, yet others are still under copyright.

List
Agropelter
Jackalope

Beasts
  • Agropelter, a beast which amuses itself by hurling twigs and tree branches at passers-by.[4]
  • Axehandle hound, reputedly subsisted on axe handles left unattended; mentioned in Jorge Luis Borges' Book of Imaginary Beings.[13]
  • Ball-tailed cat, a feline similar to a mountain lion, except with a long tail with a bulbous end used for striking its prey.
  • Cactus cat, a feline of the American Southwest with hair-like thorns that intoxicates itself by the consumption of cactus water.[4]
  • Dungavenhooter, a crocodile creature with no mouth, instead having huge nostrils. Uses its tail to pound loggers into a gas, which it then inhales for sustenance.[5]
  • Glawackus, a fierce brute resembling a combination of a panther, lion, and a bear.
  • Gumberoo, a rare hairless bear-like creature with skin that is nearly invulnerable, repelling all attacks except fire which will cause the gumberoo to combust in a massive explosion.
  • Hidebehind, a brute which would seize unwary lumberjacks and devour them, and was said to be so swift that it could hide behind the nearest tree before a man turned around.[5]
  • Hodag, a favorite varmint of the Wisconsin swamps affixed with horns and spikes, complemented by a maniacal grin.[13]
  • Hugag, an animal similar to a moose, with stiff, jointless legs, and a large upper lip which prevents it from grazing. Its range includes western Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, and northward into Canada toward Hudson Bay.[4]
  • Jackalope, a rabbit with the antlers of an antelope or deer.[9]
  • Jersey Devil, a predatory creature said to terrorize livestock in the pines of Southern New Jersey. Often described as winged and bipedal, and sometimes connected to witchcraft and devil worship.
  • Sidehill gouger, a beast legged for hillsides having legs on one side taller than the other, thus always traveling in a circular path.[9]
Fur-bearing trout
Hoop snake
  • Splintercat, a legendary cat in the Pacific Northwest that uses his incredible speed and stiff forehead to smash into large trees, knocking the branches off and withering the trunks.
  • Squonk, the most melancholic of creatures. Because of its deformed countenance, it refuses contact with all life and will dissolve in its own tears if ever gazed upon.[4]
  • Teakettler, a small vermin which makes a noise like the sound of a tea kettle.[13]
  • Wampus cat, a large phantom panther[10] who some say heralds death with its call.

Birds
  • Belled buzzard, a vulture with a bell affixed, the ringing of which is seen as an omen of disaster.
  • Gillygaloo bird, a bird that lays square eggs, so they do not roll.[13]
  • Goofus bird, a backwards-flying bird that builds its nest upside down.[13]

Fish
  • Fur-bearing trout, a species of trout which grows a thick coat of fur for warmth in its cold climate.[15]

Serpents
  • Hoop snake, a snake which bites its tail to enable it to roll like a wheel.[10]
  • Joint snake, a snake that can reassemble itself after being cut to pieces or break apart when hit with something.
  • Snallygaster, a dragon-like beast said to inhabit the hills surrounding Washington and Frederick Counties of Maryland
  • Snow snake, a snake that is only active during winter months.

See also

References
  1. 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. Cox, William T. with Latin Classifications by George B. Sudworth. Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods. Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler Inc., 1910
  5. Tryon, Henry Harrington. Fearsome Critters. (Cornwall, NY: Idlewild Press, 1939)
  6. Brown, C.E. Paul Bunyan Natural History. (Madison: self-published, 1935.)
  7. Cohen, Daniel. Monsters, Giants, and Little Men from Mars: An Unnatural History of the Americas. (New York: Doubleday, 1975)
  8. Bester, Cathleen. (5 May 2017). "Mangrove Rivulus." Retrieved March 07, 2020, from Florida Museum. Web site: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/rivulus-marmoratus/
  9. 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.)
  15. Fellowship of Fur-Bearing Fish. (2011). "Myth or Marvel?: The Fur-Bearing Trout." Retrieved March 09, 2011, from Furbearingtrout.com. Web site: http://www.furbearingtrout.com

Sources
  • Boatright, Mody C. (1934). Tall Tales from Texas Cow Camps. Dallas, Texas: The Southwest Press.
  • Botkin, B.A., ed. (1955). A Treasury of American Folklore. New York, NY: Crown Publishers.
  • The American People: Stories, Legends, Tales, Traditions, and Songs. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. 1977.
  • Davidson, Levette Jay; Blake, Forrester, eds. (1947). Rocky Mountain Tales. Tulsa, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press.
  • Leach, Maria, ed. (1972). Funk & Wagnall's Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
  • MacDougall, Curtis D. (1958). Hoaxes. New York, NY: Dover Publications, Inc.
  • Cohen, Daniel (1975). Monsters, Giants, and Little Men from Mars: An Unnatural History of the Americas. New York, NY: Doubleday.


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