[ganong] identity OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS 215 



Elan, or Elian, or Eslan. — French name for the European Elk, transferred 

 naturally to the very similar American animal, also called Orignac, 

 and, by the English, Moof^c. Used as an alternative for Orignac, (pre- 

 cisely as the English used Elk as an alternative for Moose), by 

 Champlain, by Lescarbot, by Denys and by others. Thompson geton 

 has traced the transference of the name Elk to the Wapiti. 



Emerillon. — French name of the Merlin, a European Hawk, which does not 

 occur in America, though Lescarbot records it there, as does Cham- 

 plain (1632). Professor Dionne tells me the name is applied in Can- 

 ada to the Sharp-shinnned Hawk and the Pigeon Hawk. 



Enchois. — Name used by Denys for some fish of Acadia. It is the French 

 name for the Anchovy, a species of which occurs on the coast of the 

 United States, and perhaps ranges into Canada. There is, however, 

 another possibility, suggested by a note of Hakluyt (see Lanson) to the 

 effect that the Caplin was called by the Spaniards AncUoms. Denys 

 mentions the Lanson, or Caplin, in his first volume, but omits it from 

 the later list in which he gives Eneliois. Hence he may have under- 

 stood them as synonymous. 



Encornet. — French name for Cattle-fish,' transferred to the Squid of our 

 Atlantic coast. Useâ--fi^rst by Lescarbet, and fully described by Denys 

 in the form Lencorncf. The name still persists among both the Cana- 

 dian and the Acadian French (fide Clapin, Dictionnaire, and A. C. 

 Smith). 



Eperlan, or esplan, etc. — French name for the Smelt of Europe, extended to 

 the American form. Used first by Cartier, in 1535, as Icpclan, and 

 by all others thereafter. Still used by the Acadians as Eperlon (.flde 

 A. C. Smith). 



Epervier. — French name of the European Sparrow Hawk, used by Lescarbot 

 and by Champlain (1632) no doubt for the American Sparrow Hawk, 

 though' Professor Dionne tells me the name is applied in Canada also to 

 the Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. 



Epine. — See Aubépine. 



Epinette. — See Sapin. 



Equille, or Esguille. — French name for a small fish, also called Lanson, of 

 F'rance, extended to the similar Sand-eel or Lant of Canada. Used 

 first, in 1604, by Champlain, who had observed it at Port Royal and 

 named a river for it; mentioned also by Les ;arbot and by Denj^s. The 

 Lanson of Denys, and the present-day Acadians, however, is the 

 Caplin. 



Ermine, or Hermine. — French name of a valuable fur-bearing weasel of 

 Europe, transferred to a closely-related form, the Common White 

 Weasel, or Ermine, of America. It is mentioned first by Champlain in 

 1632, and is described by Denys. The common weasel is still called 

 VHcnnine by the Canadian French, according to Mr. Thompson Seton. 



