CORRESPONDENCE 
105 
The ‘Varying Hare’ of the bookmen is now fully established as the ‘Snowshoe 
Rabbit.’ The ‘Maryland Marmot’ is the ‘Woodchuck,’ and the ‘Argali’ of the 
early writers is now wholly and exclusively the ‘Big-horn’ or ‘Mountain Sheep.’ 
Sad to relate, however, I see many evidences that the monosyllabic trend is 
threatening to establish ‘Sheep’ on the grave of ‘Bighorn.’ 
Part of last winter I spent on the Mohave Desert at a ranch, associated with 
some boys who were keen on natural history. Onychomys was plentiful and 
easily trapped. I gave the boys their choice of its various names, Onychomys, 
Mole-mouse, Bobtailed Deermouse, Grasshopper Mouse, and Calling-Mouse. 
I gave the reasons for each name, and asked them which they preferred. The 
first two did not receive very long consideration. ‘Grasshopper Mouse’ in spite 
of explanations, they thought too suggestive of ‘Kangaroo-rat;’ the hopping 
dominated their thought. All agreed finally, that ‘Calling-Mouse’ was the best 
name. A week later I found that this was the only one that they remembered, 
which seems to me a very important evidence of its value as a name. 
I had a similar experience with ‘Antelope Chipmunk’ vs. ‘Cottontail Chip- 
munk.’ The latter was easy to say, pat, descriptive, and worked with familiar 
ideas. Antelope are unknown now, therefore ‘Cottontail Chipmunk’ won. 
So, also, ‘Little 4-striped Chipmunk’ had no chance with ‘Snow-chipmunk.’ 
Every naturalist will recall examples of the same sort, and the struggle between 
the imitation English and the really evolved English name . The ultimate survival 
of the latter is inevitable. 
There is one other case that should be considered, and that is ‘Mammal’ vs. 
‘Quadruped’ or ‘Animal.’ The popular and English names for the creatures 
under consideration, are ‘brutes,’ ‘beasts,’ ‘quadrupeds’ or ‘animals.’ ‘Mammal’ 
is bastard Latin, not English, and seems never likely to be. ‘Quadruped’ was 
accepted by Audubon, Bachman, Kennicott, and many others, and has become 
English, for custom has excluded the frogs, lizards, and turtles from the quadru- 
ped list just as completely as it has the tables and chairs. But ‘animal’ is even 
more widely established now, and, in the restricted sense of ‘mammal’ is ac- 
cepted by the Century Dictionary. We may as well do the same thing. 
Of course the bookmen in defense of their position hark back to the original 
meaning, the derivation of the word. To this, I reply, such an argument, if 
allowed full weight, would abolish the English language altogether. 
Original meaning has no weight whatever against national usage. These 
broad conclusions, then, will, I think prove acceptable : 
That as soon as familiar with an animal, the popular mind evolves a name for 
it, and that name is nearly always better than the artificial product of some 
scientist. 
That an enormous impetus is given to the study, as soon as we get good names. 
Let us therefore accept the book names proposed until better are found, but 
let us encourage everyone interested to gather up, record, develop, suggest, or 
invent a good name, whenever the opportunity or the inspiration arrives. 
Then we shall have the irresistible power of the genius of English backing 
the study, instead of bucking it, as at present. 
Yours very sincerely, 
Ernest Thompson Seton, 
Greenwich, Connecticut, 
November 25, 1919. 
