HARR?N OTON] ETHNOZOOLOGY OF THE TEWA INDIANS 7 



It was hoped to do a large amount of etlmozoologic work while in 

 the field. Unforeseen circumstances prevented this except for a few 

 hours of the last two days of the field season. Mr. Harrington, how 

 ever, was able to do some independent work along that line in con 

 nection with Ms regular studies of the language of the Tewa. The 

 Indian names given are in the San Juan dialect of the Tewa language, 

 except where otherwise stated. The greater part of the discussion 

 of methods in etlmobotany in Bulletin 55 applies with equal force 

 to ethnozoology and needs not be repeated here. 



Most of the animal names were obtained by exhibiting specimens 

 to several Indians, including some of the older men of the tribe. 

 Where specimens in hand were not available, care was taken to make 

 sure of the identity of the animals named; this was easy, of course, in 

 case of sucli readily described animals as the porcupine. In a few 

 cases it was considered safe to use good colored plates figuring easily 

 identified species; but wherever possible specimens in hand were 

 exhibited and also the same species alive in their natural habitat. 

 Where there is a question as to identity the name is either omitted 

 or the doubt is expressed. It is always best to show informants also 

 specimens of all species in the region which closely resemble one 

 another and discover whether they really definitely distinguish them, 

 and, if so, how. Care should always be taken not to suggest to them 

 the answer to inquiries. 



It is frequently said by unthinking or uninformed persons, who 

 know something of the Indians intimate knowledge of some phases 

 of nature, that the American Indians know and have names for every 

 species of plant and animal living in their vicinity. Inasmuch as 

 some microscopic forms exist everywhere and as many macroscopic 

 forms of invertebrates, as some insects, crustaceans, and mollusks, 

 can be distinguished only by microscopic characters, the incorrect 

 ness of that idea is evident. The Indians are usually correct in dis 

 tinguishing the larger and bejtter-marked species of birds and mam 

 mals, but they certainly do not recognize some of the minute differ 

 ences which are of more importance than some of those more easily 

 observed. They distinguish species more closely than the average 

 white man who has not had zoologic training. Though several species 

 of jackrabbits and several cottontails inhabit the region over which 

 these Indians have roamed, they seem to recognize but one species of 

 each. However, the majority of white men could not do more. The 

 Pueblo Indians who claim the Jemez Plateau as the home of their 

 ancestors are agriculturists, not hunters, though they do some hunt 

 ing, of course, just as white fanners do. It would be interesting and 

 important to make a thorough comparative study of the knowledge 

 of natural history possessed by agricultural tribes and hunting tribes. 

 69231 Bull. 56142 



