Liberia ^•- 



digenous birds and beasts. The average Americo-Liberian is 

 far more ignorant of the fauna and flora of his own country than 

 is the casual Englishman, Frenchman, or, above all, G.^rman who 

 lands on his shores. He brought with him from America 

 that exasperating habit of mis-naming birds and beasts, a per- 

 versity which will long afiiict American-English. The Civet Cat 



INUEl'KNDENCK DAY, 



is called a "raccoon," the splendid Bongo Tragelaph {Boocercus 

 euryceros) is styled the " elk," the Harnessed Antelope" is called 

 the " red-deer," Jentink's Duiker is named the " tapir," 

 the Manis is called the " armadillo," the Chimpanzee is 

 known as the " baboon," the Zebra Antelope is styled the 

 " mountain deer " ; other antelopes are called the " roebuck," 

 the " bush-goat," and so forth. The present writer was told 



366 



