HENDERSON 

 HARRINGTON 



1 ETHNOZOOLOGY OF THE TEWA INDIANS 



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

 the field. Unforeseen circumstances prevented tliis 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 Hue in con- 

 nection with his regular stuches 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 ethnobotany in Bulletin 55 applies wdth equal force 

 to ethnozoology and needs not be repeated here. 



Most of the animal names were obtained by exliibitmg specunens 

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

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

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

 case of such 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 ahve in their natural habitat. 

 Wliere 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 ui 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 unthinkuig or uninformed persons, who 

 know sometliing 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 hving in their \ncinity. Inasmuch as 

 some microscopic forms exist everywhere and as many macroscopic 

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

 can be distinguished only by microscopic characters, the incorrect- 

 ness of that idea is e^ddent. The Indians are usually correct in dis- 

 tinguisliing the larger and better-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 trainmg. 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 clami the Jemez Plateau as the home of their 

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

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

 unportant to make a thorough comparative study of the knowledge 

 of natural history possessed by agricultural tribes and hunting tribes. 

 69231°— Bull. 56—14 2 



