SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 3^^ 



to give to a child a name of which the youth would be ashamed 

 in after years ; nor can we suppose that a community would desire 

 such uncouth names to remain attached to beautiful natural ob- 

 jects in their vicinity as always provoke a smile upon the lips of 

 strangers. Many romantic localities in the State might become 

 famous as places of resort by summer visitors did not the names 

 repel them. Nor can inelegant names ever appear in poetry. 

 Such designations as Hogback mountain, Tumbledown Dick, Bull 

 hill, Goose-eye mountain, Potatoe hill, Quaggy Joe, Jockey Cap, 

 Singepole, Ben Barrow's hill and Hedghog mountain, are certainly 

 inelegant, both in poetry and in prose. 



One would be surprised to learn how often the same name is 

 repeated in Maine. A few moments examination of the map dis- 

 closes the existence of two Hogbacks, three Tumbledown Dicks, 

 two Spencer mountains, four or five Pleasant mountains, the same 

 number of Black hills and mountains, four Owl's heads, three sets 

 of Seboois lakes, five Grand lakes, six Grand falls, four sets of 

 Chain lakes, five Alder brooks, six Round ponds, nine Mud ponds, 

 and nine Bald mountains. The nine * Bald mountain peaks in the 

 State are generally quite high, and of grand proportions, which 

 renders the constant use of the name all the more undesirable. 

 There are two townships also having the name of Bald mountain. 

 Like the autumnal tints of the forests, the names of colors applied 

 to mountains is quite varied. There are three Blue mountains, a 

 Red, two Green, and several Black mountains. 



It is much easier to state the diflSculty occasioned by the redun- 

 dant use of respectable or inelegant names than to suggest a prac- 

 tical remedy. As popular language has sanctioned their use, it is 

 only the popular will that can change them. In the new region of 

 northern Maine there are many mountains particularly not yet 

 named. Such objects may at this late day receive appropriate 

 names, but very few of the others can easily be changed. When- 

 ever a party of citizens may desire a change to be made in the 

 names of beautiful objects in their vicinity, it is easy to fix the 



* Lest our statement should appear extravagant, we will give the locations of 

 all the Bald mountains mentioned : 1. In the Bald mountain township between 

 Moose river and the Canada line. 2. In township No. 3 near Parlin pond. 3. la 

 the Bald mountain township south of East Moxie. 4. In Clifton. 5. In No. 10 of 

 Hancock county. 6. Upon the Androscoggin lakes. 7. In Newry. 8. In Camden. 

 9. Bald hills in No. 2, R. 4, of Aroostook county. There may be more which we 

 have not noticed. 



