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<center><font font="" size="6" color="gold">“ What is a Fearsome Critter? ”</font></center><br><br>
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Richard M. Dorson in his book <i>Man and Beast in American Comic Legend</i>
in choosing ten North American mythical creatures to nominate for
distinction. All ten creatures met the folowing criteria<sup>23</sup> :


<ol><i>
</i><li><i> “ They enjoy life in oral anecdote and tradition.</i></li>

<li><i> &nbsp; They inspire belief and conviction as well as hilarity and tomfoolery.</i></li>
<li><i> &nbsp; They have in most cases endured for a considerable period of<BR>  &nbsp; American history.</i></li>
<li><i> &nbsp; They have become personalized or institutionalized.</i></li>
<li><i> &nbsp; They are all fanciful---mythical if you will.</i></li>

<li><i> &nbsp; They all have their comical side, presented in spoof; gag, prank, and whopper, &nbsp;  which endear them to  American publics. ”</i></li>
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<BR>
We here at the Wampus Society may add that--<br><br>


<i>A fearsome critter is any of various outlandish, mythical animals
originating from the oral traditions of North America, especially in
the jests and tall tales popularized by forest tradesmen around the
turn of the twentieth century.</i> <br><br>




In addition, fearsome critters commonly possess one or more of the following characteristics:<br><br><br>

I.) Natural Application:<br>
An outlandish, natural attribute which seems so conveniently fitting
for a specific task or as a benefit to man, that it supersedes actual
applications invented for the same purposes. Occasionally, this is to
compensate for a lack of a conventional anatomical part.<br><br><font font="" size="2">




◊ The <b>tripodero</b> has extendable legs like a tripod granting it easy access over rough terrain. <sup>1</sup><br>

◊ The <b>roperite</b> reels in its prey with its astonishing lasso-like bill.<sup>1</sup><br>

◊ The <b>gillygaloo</b> bird's spotted-egg's cube-shape stops them from rolling, but also make great dice if hard boiled. <sup>2</sup><br>
◊ <b>Engineer rats</b> are very clever, after landslides they pick up every rock and put it back exactly where it had been. <sup>4</sup><br>

◊ The <b>snoligoster</b> has not limbs nor fins, but can glide through water by means of its unique propeller-tipped tail. <sup>1</sup><br>
◊ The <b>dungavenhooter</b> lacking a mouth, beats its prey into powder then vacuums them in through its large nostrils.<sup>2</sup>
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II.) Cruel Joke of Nature:<br>

(Conversely.) A natural attribute that would seem intended for the sole
aim of utterly dooming the animal or as a particular inconvenience to
man.<br><br>


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◊ The <b>terrashot</b>'s instinctive migration, leads it to the hot sands of the desert where it explodes upon contact.<sup>1</sup><br>
◊ The <b>side-hill gouger</b> has legs of uneven lengths trapping it in a endless, circular path around a hill. <sup>2</sup><br>

◊ The <b>hugag</b> is prevented from grazing due to its long, upper lip and laying down due to its jointless legs. 1<br>

◊ The <b>luebker eagle</b> is always in constant flight due to its lack of legs making any safe landing impossible. <sup>4</sup><br>
◊ The <b>axehandle hound</b> has left many loggers with just an ax head. As its name derives from its only food source. <sup>2</sup><br>

◊ The <b>augerino</b>'s natural dislike for water causes it to tunnel underground and drain irrigation trenches. <sup>7</sup></font></font>

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III.) Contrary Instinct<br>
A predisposition counterwise to common reasoning; although, sometimes explanations are offered for their awkward behavior.<br><br>

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◊ The <b>goofus</b> bird nests upside down and flies backwards (not caring where it is going, only where it has been.) <sup>2</sup><br>

◊ <b>Hoot-peckers</b> are known to never sleep, but instead peck at trees all day and night. <sup>4</sup><br>

◊ The <b>goofang</b> is a fish that swims backwards to keep the water out of its eyes. <sup>5</sup><br></font>
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IV.) Binomial Nomenclature<br>

Mock-Latin terminology used to 'scientifically' label each creature and
distinguish between its different sub-species. Unlike proper usage the
name doesn't necessarily indicate a species and its genus.<br><br>


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◊ The <b>ball-tailed cat</b> is known as <i>felis caudaglobosa</i>. <sup>2</sup><br>

◊ The <b>tree-squeak</b> is known as <i>arborexusta stridens</i>. <sup>2</sup><br>

◊ The <b>squonk</b> is known as <i>lacrimacorpus dissolvens</i>.1<br>
◊ The <b>hog bear</b> is known as <i>ursus unimorsus amantiporcus</i>.1<br>

◊ The <b>jackalope</b> is known as <i>lepus temperamentalus</i>.<br> 

◊ The <b>hodag</b> is known as <i>bovinus spiritualis</i>.</font>
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V.) Sub-Species:<br>

 Different varieties of the same creatures.<br><br> 


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◊ The <b>Black hodag</b> (<i>bovinus spiritualis</i>) has spikes, dwells in swamps, and eats white bulldogs. <sup>4</sup><br>
◊ The <b>Cave hodag</b> (<i>trioculis troglobiticus</i>) has three eyes and dwells in caverns. <br>

◊ The <b>Sidehill-dodge hodag</b> (<i>atroxbovinus monticolus</i>) has two legs longer than the others and lives on hillsides.<br> 

◊ The <b>Shovel-nose hodag</b> (<i>nasobatilus hystrivoratus</i>) has no spikes, dwells in the woods, and eats porcupines. <br>
◊ <b>Cox's gumberoo</b> (<i>megalogaster repercussus</i>) is quadruped and can bounce bullets off its hide. <sup><font font="">1</font></sup><font font=""><br>

◊ <b>Tyron's gumberoo</b> (<i>formax rotor</i>) is hendecaped and can bounce bullets off its hide. <sup>2</sup></font>

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VI.) Behavioral Names<br>
Named for a behavioral trait.<br><br>


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◊ The <b>hidebehind</b> is called such because it is always hidden from sight. <sup>2</sup><br>
◊ The <b>hangdown</b> is called such because it is always hanging from something. <sup>5</sup><br>

◊ The <b>come-at-a-body</b> is called such because of its habit to rush up on people. <sup>2</sup></font>

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VII.) Emotional Variety<br>
Array of different dispositions.<br><br>


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◊ The <b>squonk</b> is so sad due to its hideous appearance, it weeps constantly. If ever seen it will dissolve into tears. 1<br>
◊ The <b>cactus cat</b> is constantly drunk due to its fondness for fermented cactus water. <sup><font font="">1</font></sup><font font=""><br>

◊ The <b>argopelter</b> keeps itself amused by hurling twigs and branches at passers by. <sup><font font="">1</font></sup><font font=""><br>

◊ The <b>squidgicum-squee</b> is so bashful that when spotted. It will swallow up a breath of air, engulfing itself. <sup>18</sup><br>
◊ The <b>whingding</b> sobs so pathetically that it once brought down a pack of wolves who died out of sheer grief. <sup>15</sup><br>

◊ The confused <b>goofus</b> bird only flies backwards. <sup>2</sup></font>

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VIII.) Chimera<br>
A combination between two temporal animals or more; alternatively, an animal may take on the traits of another.<br><br>


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◊ The <b>snallygaster</b> is a bird-reptile hybrid, with sharp teeth, a metal beak, wriggling tentacles, and one evil eye. <sup>18</sup><br>

◊ The <b>hodag</b> is described as having a head like an ox, bulging eyes, and a body like a prehistoric dinosaur. <sup>2</sup><br>
◊ The <b>jackalope</b> has the body of a rabbit, but with the antlers of a wild deer. <sup>4</sup><br>
◊ The <b>bassigator</b> has the head of a aligator and the body of a fish.<br>

◊ <b>Old spider-legs</b> is a horse having as many legs as a household arachnid. <sup>4</sup><br>
◊ The <b>shagamaw</b> has interchangable legs, one resembling those of a moose and the other of a bear. <sup><font font="">1</font></sup><font font=""></font>
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IX.) Endangerment<br>

Common is the notion that a species is confined to a very limited area, fading away, or extinct.<br><br>


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◊ The <b>leprocaun</b> is the surviving descendant of the Irish leprechaun, since the latter became extinct in Ireland. 1<br>
◊ Some say the last of the <b>splinter cats</b> killed themselves off after they all "dashed their brains out." <sup>3</sup><br>

◊ Once common to the southwest, the <b>cactus cat</b> lives only in the memories of a few old-timers. <sup>1</sup><br>

◊ The <b>roperite</b> existed in great herds, but hasn't been reported for many years. <sup>4</sup><br>
◊ The <b>bildad</b> can only be found in and around Boundary Pond, Maine.1<br>

◊ The range of the <b>squonk</b> extends no more than within the hemlock forests of Pennsylvania. <sup><font font="">1</font></sup><font font=""></font>

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