182 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



2. Physical features, as colour {Red Head), size (Big Brook), shape 

 {LoiKj Island), composition (Rocky JIointtatKs), nwmhev (Three Islands). 



3. Jîesemblance to well-known objects (^Siigar Loaf, Old Friar). 



4. Impressions inade on ' the beholder, either pleasant (Mount 

 Pleasant), or uncanny (Devil's Slide). 



5. Position, as to the compass (North Xiake), on a stream (Upper 

 Kingselear). 



6. Occurrence of some object thei-e, as animals (Gaintet Rock), plants 

 (Birrh Ridge). 



7. Ownership, by a people (Indian Village), or an individual. 



8. An associated event, as the exploit of a man (Pike's Peak), a 

 battle {Battle Hill), a conflagration (Burnt Church). 



Among aboriginal peoples names of the seventh class are, for small 

 features, wanting, and those of the second most abundant. Their names 

 apply only to features of importance in their mode of life, to rivers, lakes, 

 mountains, etc., and where now applied to artificial features, that is sub- 

 sequent and by white men. Thc}^ need and have no generic names for 

 countries ; these are alwaj'S described by the name of the people in- 

 habiting them. 



Among the more primitive classes of civilized peoples on the other 

 hand, ownership names, for places limited enough to have a single owner, 

 are C(mimonest of all, of course on account of their convenience, and after 

 them come the other classes is nearly equal proportions. One may find 

 primitive names of these kinds, unaffected by legislation, in the verbal 

 nomenclature of country people and sailors, and with particular perfec- 

 tion in that of river-drivers. (See later under St. Croix.) In their very 

 origin the names in all of these classes are simj)!}* descriptive phrases, 

 common nouns and adjectives ; hlack point is at first only a shorter 

 wa}' of saying tJœ point u-Jiich is black, but gi-adually b}" use the name 

 becomes so associated with the place that it recalls it b}^ its very sound, 

 Avithout the intermediation of the descriptive idea, and when this occurs 

 it has become a proper noun, has attained its majority and become a true 

 place-name ; and when by alterations through use ov change of language 

 its original meaning is no longer prominent or even recognizable, it rises 

 in rank among place-names. 



There are prevalent many erroneous origins for names of this class, 

 as will be discussed later under the investigation of place-names. 



Of names deliberately given, there are three important classes: 



1. Those of explorers. ;>. Those of legislators. 



2. Those of settlers. 4. Invented or fanciful names. 



The earliest exploratitmsare usually hasty and of wide range ; names 

 are given abundantl}^ and while often descriptive are more often com- 

 memorative of (a) some event of the voyage (Port Mouton), (b) sensations 

 upon the discovery (Cape of Good Hope), (c) day of a saint (St. Lawrence), 



