234 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Pommier. — Denys states that the apple trees of Acadia creep upon the ground, 

 not rising over half a foot, have a fruit as large as a hazel-nut, which 

 is red on one side and white on the other, and only good after it has 

 experienced the winter frost. This description fits well the common 

 marsh cranberry, which accordingly, I think, is the plant meant, though 

 I took a different view in my edition of Denys. It is to be rememDered 

 that the word Pomme in French has, with suitable qualifications, a very 

 elastic application, covering many berries and even vegetables. This 

 identification is confirmed by Lescarbot's mention of the marsh cran- 

 berries as petits fruits comme des pommelets (which see), and further 

 I have myself heard the name pomme applied to the large cranberry 

 by the Acadians. Le Jeune, however, • in saying that the wild apples 

 are sweeter though smaller than those of France, may have some other 

 plant in mind, possibly the Amelanchier, or Shad-bush berries, which 

 others described as Pears (See Poire) ; these are as much apple as 

 pear. 



Porc-épic. — French name for the European Porcupine, transferred naturally 

 to the American species. Occurs first in Hakluyt's translation of Al- 

 phonse, in 1542, as porkespicks, and given by Champlain, in 1603, as 

 Pores-epics and thereafter by many writers. There is a poor picture 

 of this animal on the Desceliers map of 1542, doubtless the first made 

 of the American species. 



Posteau. — A local name in Saintonge for a small non-spined Ray (or SKate), 

 according to Jouain's Patois Saintongeais; transferred by Denys, in 

 1672, to one of the smaller Rays of Acadia, exact identity not certain. 



Poule d'Eau. — French name for the European Coot, transferred to its Amer- 

 ican representative, the American Coot, or Mud Hen. Used by Denys, 

 and still thus called by the Canadian French (fide C. E. Dionne). Ac- 

 cording to G. Trumbull's Names and Portraits of Birds the name Pull- 

 doo, an obvious corruption or Poule d'Eau, is applied to the Coot in 

 Connecticut. 



Poule de Mer. — French name, meaning Sea Hen, applied to the Guillemot of 

 Europe, extended to the similar Canadian form, which is the Murre. 

 Used by Denys, whose description is in full accord with this identifica- 

 tion, and by Dieréville in the form Foule. Dieréville says they are also 

 called Palourdes, " perhaps because they are very heavy on the wing," 

 a reason I do not understand. It is the Marinette of Champlain and 

 some others. 



Pounamon, or Pounamou, etc. — The Micmac Indian name of the Tomcod. 

 given by Rand as poouamoo, adopted by the early voyagers and still in 

 use, as Pounamon, among the Acadians iflde A. C. Smith). Used first 

 by Lescarbot as Pounamou by Father Biard, as Ponanio, in his Relation 

 of 1611-1616, and by Denys as Pounamon. 



Pourpier. — French name for the Pursk ne of Europe, applied by Lescarbot to 

 a plant of Acadia. As no Purslane occurred there wild he must refer 

 to another plant, which very probably was the rather similar and con- 

 spicuous Glaitw maritima, or Arenaria peptoides (M. L, Fernald). 



