USA > New York > Indian names in New-York : with a selection from other states, and some Onondaga names of plants, etc. > Part 8
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Maskoutens was defined Fire nation, or Place of fire, in 1670. Charlevoix interpreted this as prairies, which owe their origin to fire.
Gananoqui, in Canada, has been interpreted Wild potatoes, or ground nuts, but it is also rendered Kahnonnokwen, Meadow rising out of the water. 1
Toronto, or Thorontohen, Timber on the waters. Morgan gives it as Deondo, Log floating upon the water. It is quite an old name in its present form, appearing on early maps.
Shamokin and Shackamaxon are both defined Place of eels.
Seminole, Runaway; a name given this people because they left the Creeks. It is derived from Isti semole, Wild men.
Sheboygan, River flowing out of the ground.
Shenandoah, Spruce stream.
Tobyhanna, Alder stream.
Yantic, One side of the tidal river.
Youghiogheny, Stream which runs round about.
Kenzua, They gobble.
Loyalhanna, Middle stream.
Loyalsock, Middle creek.
Octarora, Where presents were given, a place naturally long remembered.
Roanoke was called Konentcheneke by the Iroquois in 1722. Chickahominy, Turkey creek.
Chickamauga, River of death.
Chigoes, Oldest planted ground, an early name for Burlington, New Jersey.
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INDIAN NAMES. 105
Geauga, Raccoon. This was originally Sheauga sepe, or Rac- coon river.
Walhonding river, White woman.
Cuyahoga, Crooked, but the earlier forms are more like the Iroquois word for creek, or river.
Cuyahoga Falls were called Coppacow, defined as Shedding tears.
Miami, a name for mother in Ottawa.
Suckasunny, Black creek.
Whippany, Arrow creek
Neshannock, Two streams near each other.
Niantic, River where the tide flows.
Niobrara, Broad river.
Nipsic, Place of a pool.
Nockamixon, At the five houses.
Omaha, Up stream.
Patapsco, Black water.
Powhatan, At the falls of the stream. Powathanne, the James river, differs but slightly from this, yet has been interpreted River of pregnancy. Pensacola, Hair people.
Pequod, Destroyer. New London, in Connecticut, was called Pequot, and also Mameeag and Tawawog.
Pocasset, Where the strait expands.
Quantico, Dancing.
Rappahannock, Current returning and flowing again.
Muskegoe, Swamp.
Tuscaloosa, from Tushka, Warrior, and Lusa, black.
Tampa, Close to it.
Tombigbee. Coffin makers, though this seems an odd meaning for an Indian name.
Towanda, At the burying place.
Venango had its name from an obscene picture painted on a tree, by the stream.
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INDIAN NAMES.
Wampanoag, East land.
Wheeling. Although this has every appearance of an Europe- an name, yet it has been derived, by some, from Whilink, At the head of the river.
Willimantic, Good cedar swamp.
Skippack, Stinking pool.
Tamaqua, Beaver creek.
Tunkhannock and Tunkhanna, Smaller stream.
Moyamensing, Maize land.
Natchez, One running to war.
Ocoligo, Where snakes hibernate in holes.
Absecumb bay, Plenty of swans.
Chillicothe was the name of a principal tribe of the Shawnees, transferred to the town.
Catasauqua, Thirsty land.
Catawissa, Becoming fat.
Andes has been said to mean Copper, or metal in general.
Apache, Poor. In the Indian sign language the appropriate gesture for this expresses extreme poverty. The name itself is from Eepache, Man.
Machhanne, Largest stream.
Mahoning is Place of the lick, and Mahanoy is simply the lick itself.
Matapony. No bread to be had.
Nepaug is Fish pond.
Otsiketa was a name for Lake St. Clair.
Teton, Dweller on the plains, as it is said. It seems quite doubtful.
Tippecanoe, At the great clearing.
Monayunk, A place of rum, is one of several names for Phil- adelphia. Coaquannock, Grove of tall pine trees, has been given as another.
Sandusky. The Wyandots said it meant At the cold water.
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INDIAN NAMES.
It has also been rendered Saundustee, Water within water pools. It is an early name, being called Sandosquet in 1718.
Cussawago, Snake with a large belly.
Conewago, rendered Long strip, but it has been defined more properly as the rapids.
Ontonagon. This fine name, according to Schoolcraft, had a very simple origin. There is a small bay at the mouth of the river. " An Indian woman had left her wooden dish, or Onagon, on the sands, at the shore of this little bay, where she had been engaged. On coming back from her lodge, the out flowing cur- rent had carried off her valued utensil. Nia Nin-do-nau-gon ! she exclaimed, for it was a curious piece of workmanship. That is to say-Alas! my dish !"
Conneaut has been rendered Many fish, and also It is long since they met. Conneauet lake, Snow lake. There is some ground for the second definition, but all may be wrong.
Hackensack has been defined Streams gradually uniting in love land, which is expressive. Some simply call it Low land.
Piqua is the name of a Shawnee tribe, signifying A man form- ed of ashes. The Shawnees were seated around a great fire at their annual feast, and when this burned down there was a great puffing in the ashes. Out of these came a mature man, who was the first of the Piqua tribe. From this name Pickaway is derived.
Agamenticus may be defined Beyond the river.
Nipissing, Still waters, and Place of waters.
In 1673 there were some Iroquois villages on the north side of Lake Ontario. Ganatoheskiagon was at Port Hope: Gan- eraski at the mouth of Trent river: Kente at the Bay of Quinte, and Ganeious at Nappane. These were mostly oc- cupied by Cayugas.
The Minatarees are the People of the willowes.
The Mandans, or Michtanees, were the People of the bank.
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INDIAN NAMES.
They called themselves however, See-pohs-nu-mah-kah-kee, Pro- ple of the pheasant. Catlin adopted the idea that they were partly descended from the Welsh companions of Prince Madoc, of traditional fame, and conjectured that the name of Mandan was derived from Madawgwys, Followers of Madoc. Curious and prevalent as has been the story of the Welsh Indians, it seems to have a very slender foundation.
The Sioux called the Winnebagoes, Hotanke, Big-voiced peo- ple.
· In addition to the accepted definition, Mohegan has been ren- dered The good canoe men, by Catlin.
The Delawares call themselves Lenape, Real men, like many others. In the transactions of the Buffalo Historical Society. for 1885, is a statement by some Delawares of Canada, which differs much from others. The Senecas termed the Delawares, Dyo-hens-govola, From whence the morning springs.
The Delawares said: "We often speak of ourselves as the Wapanachki, or People of the morning, in allusion to our supposed eastern origin. Our traditions affirm that at the period of the discovery of America our nation resided on the is- land of New York. We called that island Manahatouh, The place where timber is procured for bows and arrows. The word is compounded of N'manhumin, I gather, and tanning, At the place. At the lower end of the island was a grove of hickory trees, of peculiar strength and toughness. Our fathers held this timber in high esteem, as material for constructing bows, war clubs, etc. When we were driven back by the whites, our nation became divided into two bands: one was termed Minsi. The great stone : the other was called Wenawmien, Doron the river, they being located farther down the stream than our settlement. We called the Susquehanna, Athethquanee, The roily river. The Monongahela was called Mehmannauwinggehlau, Many landslides. The Alleghany mountains were called by us Allicke-
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INDIAN NAMES.
wany, He is leaving us and may never return. Reference is made, I suppose, to departing hunters or warriors, who were about to enter the passes of those rugged mountains."
Besides other meanings, Algonquin has been derived from Al- gomequin, Those on the other side of the river.
The Caddo Indians have their name from Kaede, A chief.
The Chitimacha, a Louisiana tribe, have their name from tchuti and masha. They possess cooking vessels.
Eskimo is from Eskimantik. Eaters of raw flesh.
Kiowa has been defined as a rat and as a prairie hen.
Sioux is a corruption of Nadowessiwag, a term of reproach, meaning The snake-like ones or The enemies.
Apalachian and Apalachicola are from the Apalaches, a tribe mentioned by De Soto. From this people the Spaniards gave the name of Apalachin to a species of Cassia.
Yuma, Sons of the river.
Zuni, People of the long nails, because the Zuni surgeons keep their finger nails long.
Athapasca. Place of hay and reeds.
Attacapa, Man cater.
Anahuac is said to mean Near the water.
Osceola, Black drink.
Tucson is probably Black creek.
Otonabee river comes from the name of a fish.
Wapsipinicon river from an edible nut of that name.
Oshkosh was the name of one great division of the Sacs and Foxes.
Nicaragua was the name of a great chief whom Gonzales met in 1522. The lake was called Cocibolca.
In the New England States the old Indian names of many places are known, but are disused, and some have been trans- ferred to other places. In Massachusetts, Charlestown was Mishawum : Oxford, Manchage; Rehoboth, Secunk ; Lynn,
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INDIAN NAMES.
Saugus; Dorchester, Mattapan; Milton, Unquety ; Salem, Naumkeag; Plymouth, Patuxet ; Pembroke, Namasakeeset ; Falmouth, Sokonesset; New Bedford, Acushnett.
The early name of Boston was Shawmut: Natick was the Place of hills, and others might be cited.
In Connecticut, Simsbury was Mussauco; Cuilford, Menun- katuck : New Haven, Quilliapiack.
Providence, R. I., was originally Mooshausick.
Martha's Vineyard was Nope, and also Capawack.
Detroit, or the Strait, as the French termed it, was called Teuchsagrondie by the Iroquois, The turned channel. The Chippewa name was Waweatunong, with the same meaning. In the early form it was Wamyachtenock.
Winooski river is the Onion river of Vermont.
Navajo means both a pool, and a level piece of ground, being expressive of flatness. It has thus been rendered Lake people and corn-field people, but might be supposed to be descriptive of their celebrated blankets, when stretched in the loom.
Mobile comes from Mavilla, a village mentioned by Garci- lasso de la Vega, in his history of Florida. In De Soto's day the Mauvilians were very powerful.
Charlevoix gives Michinipi, Great water, as the Indian name of Lake Superior.
Schoolcraft has it Gitshiguma, with the same meaning. In a foot note in Tanner's Narrative, it is said, "Lakes of the largest class are called by the Ottawwaws, Kitchegawme ; of these they reckon five: one which they commonly call Ojibbeway Kitche- gawme, Lake Superior: two Ottawwaw Kitchegawme, Huron and Michigan; and Erie and Ontario. Lake Winnipeg, and the countless lakes in the north-west, they call Sahkiegunnun." Their name for a small lake is Sahkiegun.
The Chippewas termed the Minnetarees. the Agutchaninne- wug, or Settled people.
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INDIAN NAMES,
Pembinah was Nebeninnah-ne-sebee, High cranberry river.
The Chippewas call Montreal, Moneong.
The Nottoways were called Rattlesnakes.
Tanner calls the Sioux, Roasters.
Minisotah means Turbid water, by contraction Mendote mini . sotah became Mendota.
In Capt. George B. McClellan's general report on the western division of the survey of the Cascades, in Washington Territory, 1853, he gives a large uumber of Indian names, but without their meanings. He says, "The Indian names of these streams, lakes, prairies, etc., were carefully obtained by Mr. Gibbs, dur- ing the trip. They have been adopted in the map and the re- ports as preferable to any names we could give them ; partly for the purpose of endeavoring to perpetuate them, and partly for the reason that they will be of service to persons travelling through the country." Mr. Gibbs also gave the names of the Indian tribes, with their location.
Carver gave the meaning of Michilimackinac as Tortoise, but the prefix meant Great, and his definition properly belongs to the usual contracted form of the word. According to him, the Indian name of Lake Pepin is Wakonteebe, Dwelling of the Great Spirit. In his vocabulary, Wakaigon, Fort, might be ap- plied to Waukegan.
Col. Dodge gives the names of several Indian tribes and bands- Yankton is Village at the end; the Brules are the Burnt thighs ; the Ogallallas are the Wanderers; the Cheyennes are the Pai- kandoos or Cut wrists ; the Arrapahoes, Dirty noses ; the Kio- was, Prairie men ; and the Comanches, Serpents.
It would be an endless task to give the true or conjectural meanings of all the remaining Indian names of this land. Those which survive are vastly more in number than is commonly sup- posed, and they are among our very best, as far as sound goes. Of a large proportion the meanings cannot be recovered.
Onondaga Names of Plants and Animals.
T T HE REV. ALBERT CUSICK suggested to me that Indian names should not be confined to mere English equivalents, but should be defined. A good beginning was made in this way, but we soon found it was impossible to recover the meanings of many. The difficulty will be appreciated by studying our own common names. Why is a fish thus called? What was the first meaning of a bird? While the original design thus failed, the actual re- sults were too valuable to be lost, and there may come no better opportunity for their publication and preservation than that now afforded.
Indian names, being descriptive, are not everywhere the same, even in the same language or its dialects, and yet the name will be recognized by all. One of the Six Nations calls the elephant, " That great naked animal," while another terms it the "Beast with a long nose." In a similar way our common names of plants are not everywhere the same, but are readily recognized when descriptive.
It is curious to see how many names of plants and animals have become obsolete through disuse by the Indians. Since they have been practically confined to their reservations they have lost all knowledge of some plants not found upon them.
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INDIAN NAMES.
Nor does their early knowledge seem as great as has been supposed. One name will answer for several things which look much alike, and many species are unnoticed. Of some plants, reputed to be of medicinal use among them, they seem to have no knowledge.
Cowslip, (Caltha,) Ka-nah-wah-hawks, It opens the swamps, from blossoming in the spring.
Blood-root. Da-weh-ne-quen-chuks. It breaks blood.
Strawberry, Noon-tak-tek-hah-kwa, Growing where the ground is burned, or Knoll burned.
Gooseberry, Ska-hens-skah-he-goo.na, Large currant. The wild kind has also something to express the thorny fruit.
Wild grape, Oh-heun-kwe-sa, Long vine.
Cultivated grape, Oh-heun-kwe-sa-goo-na; Goona meaning large.
Burdock, Oo-nuh-kwa-sa-wa-nehs, Big burr.
Stick-tights, Ne-uh-noo-kwa-sa-sa-ah, Small burr.
Red clover, Ah-seh-ne-u-neh-toon-tah, Three leaves. The white clover adds the word for white.
Timothy grass, Oh-teh-a-hah, Tail at the end.
Jack in the pulpit, Kah-a-hoo-sa, Indian cradle. This is very good, the Indian cradle board having a bow near the upper end, over which a covering is drawn to protect the baby's head.
Ja-e-goo-nah, White or sweet cherry, Big cherry.
Choke cherry, Ne-a-tah-tah-ne. Something that chokes.
Pear, Koon-de-soo-kwis, Long lip.
Peaches, Oo-goon-why-e, Hairy.
Cucumber, Oot-no-skwi-ne, With prickles.
Musk melon, Wah-he-yah-yees, Thing that gets ripe, from changing its color.
Water melon, Oo-neoh-sa-kah-te, Green melon, or Melon eaten raw.
Squash. This itself is a New England Indian name. In On-
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INDIAN NAMES.
ondaga it is Oo-neoh-sah-oon-we, The real melon ; perhaps that which they first had.
Skomatose, a name for tomatoes derived from our own.
Boneset, Da-uh-kah-tah-ais-te, Leaves that come together, an expressive name.
The wild onion has a long name, Oo-noh-sah-kah-hah-koon-wa- ha. Onion that grows in the woods. Oonohsah is simply onion and from this comes the name of leeks, growing in low lands, Oo-noh-so-yah, A queer onion.
Lettuce is Oo-na-tah-kah-te, Raw leaf, that is, one that is eaten raw.
O-je-kwa for the turnip, is Round or Hammer root.
The beet is Oke-ta-ha, Root. By adding syllables distinctions are made in kinds.
The yellow lady's slipper, or moccasin flower, is Kwe-ko-heah- o-tah-qua, Whippoorwill shoe, Oddly enough this is a New England name for the same plant.
Ginseng is Da-kien-too-keh, The forked plant, from its root. May-apple, or mandrake, is O-na-when-stah, Soft fruit.
The soft maple is Ah-weh-hot-kwah, The red flower, from Ah. weh-hah, flower, and Hot-kwah, red.
O-neh-tah is the pine, Like porcupines holding to a stick, from the needle-like leaves spreading out.
O-ne-tah, the hemlock spruce, means Greens on a stick.
O-wah-kwens-tah, milkweed, is Milk that sticks to the fingers.
Ta-keah-noon-wi-tahs is the name of violets. It means Two heads entangled, in allusion to their childish game of interlocking the flowers, and puiling them apart. The Cherokee name for this flower is much like this in meaning.
Slippery elm, Oo-hoosk-ah, It slips. The Iroquois made their canoes out of the bark of this.
Swa-hu-na, the apple tree, means Big apple, by contrast with thorns
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INDIAN NAMES.
Yellow willow, Cheek-kwa-ne-u-hoon-too-te, Yellow trec.
Red osier, Kwen-tah-ne-u-hoon-too-te, Red tree.
Witch hazel, Oo-eh-nah-kwe-ha-he, Spotted stick.
Spice bush, Da-wah-tah-ahn-yuks, Stick that breaks itself; that is, one that is brittle.
Sassafras, Wah-eh-nah-kas, Smelling stick.
Green osier, probably either Viburnum or Cornus, Tweb-ha- he-he. Broken flower, or leaf.
Bull thistle, Ooch-ha-neh-too-wah-neks, Many big thistles.
Thistle, Ooch ha-ne-tah, Something that pricks.
Canada thistle, Ooch-ha-ne-tas-ah, Small thistle.
Thimble berry, O-nah-joo-kwa-goo.na, Big cap.
Red raspberry, O-nah-joo-kwa, Caps.
Blackberry, Sa-he-is, Long berry.
Huckleberry, O-heah-che, Black berry.
Poke weed, Oo-juh-gwah-sah, Color weed.
Canoe Birch, Ga-nah-jeh-kwa, Birch that makes canoes.
Basswood, Ho-ho-sa, It peels. The inner bark of this is much used for fine strings and mats.
Chestnut, O-heh-yah-tah, Prickly burr. Add goona for horse chestnut.
Peppermint, Kah-nah-noos-tah, Colder, or That which makes you cold, in allusion to the first sensation. Spearmint has the same name, but is distinguished by naming the stem.
Wild thorn. Je-kah-ha-tis, Long eye-lash; that is, Long thorns.
Sarsaparilla. Ju-ke-ta-his, Long root. Other plants have this name.
Elder. Oo sa-ha, Frost on the bush.
Partridge berry. Noon-yeah-ki-e-oo-nah-yeah. The name is the same as with us, the first four syllables being the name of the bird.
Moss. O-weh-a-stah, or Owenstah. Growing all over. Lichens, have the same name.
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INDIAN NAMES.
Wintergreen. Kah-nah-koon-sah-gas, Birch smelling plant.
Plantain. Tu-hah-ho-e, It covers the road.
Ironwood. Skien-tah-gus-tah, Everlasting wood.
Aspen. Nut-ki-e, Noisy leaf.
Catnip. Ta-koos-ka-na-tuks, Cat eating leaf.
Tulip tree. Ko-yen-ta-ka ah-ta, White tree.
Creeping blackberry. O-kah-hak-wah, An eye, or Ball of an eye.
Tamarack. Ka-neh-tens, The leaves fall, it being our only de- ciduous conifer. The name of tamarack or hackmatack is an Algonquin word.
Balsam fir. Cho-koh-ton, Blisters, on the bark.
Flax. Oo-skah, Thread like, or Making threads.
Water beech. O-tan-tahr-te-weh, A lean tree. This is very expressive, the tree looking like a very thin beech.
Black raspberry. Teu-tone-hok-toon, The plant that bends over Ginseng. Da-kieen-too-keh, The forked plant. In the Oneida tongue this is Ka-lan-dag-gough.
May apple, or Mandrake, O-na-when-stah, Soft fruit.
Mullein. Ki-sit-hi, Flannel. Also, Oo-da-teach-ha. Stockings.
Yellow dock. Tea-tah, She stands over yonder.
Sycamore. Oo-da-te-cha-wun-nes, Big stockings. Ka-nen- skwa is another name.
White oak. Ki-en-tah-eh-tah, White looking tree,
Hop. Ah-weh-hah, Flower. It is O-je-jea in Oneida, Like a flower.
Dicentra, including Dutchman's breeches, and Squirrel corn. Hah-ska-nah-ho-ne-hah, Ghost corn or food for ghosts. A good name for this spectral flower.
White wake robin. O-je-gen-stah, Wrinkles on the forehead. The purple species is only distinguished by color, and its reputed medicinal virtues seemed unknown to the Onondagas. I was surprised at this, but their best medicine woman knew nothing of it in her practice.
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INDIAN NAMES.
Elecampane, or perhaps Artichoke, Ook-ta-ha-wa-ne, Big root This has another name, Kah-a-wa-soont-hah, Flower coming from a sunflower.
Red maple, small variety. Oot-kwen-tah he-ehn-yo, New growth is red.
Blue Cohosh, as well as the others, Oo-kah-ta, Not ripe.
Cat-tail. Oo-na-too-kwa, Rushes that grow high, or Plenty of flags growing. Perhaps Much rushes, in the Onondaga idiom, applying to either size or quantity. Another name is sometimes used.
Wild Aster. Ka-sa-yein-tuk-wah, It brings the frost.
Wild Plum. Ka-ha-tak-ne, Dusty fruit.
Hound's Tongue. Teu-te-nah-ki-en-tun-oo-noo-kwa-ea, Sheep burr. The first six syllables stand for sheep.
Indian tobacco, Nicotiana rustica. O-yen-kwa hon-we, Real tobacco. This species is used in religious ceremonies, and is the kind commonly grown by the Onondagas. Oyenkwa conveys no meaning beyond that of a name.
Black walnut. Deut-soo-kwa-no-ne, Round nut.
White cedar, or Arbor Vital. Oo-soo-ha-th, Feather leaf.
Cohosh. Ka-koh-sah-tes-cha-kas, Smells like a horse. It may be some other plant, but was given me as this.
Che-ka-se is Rotten wood in Tuscarora, and seems applied to Dirca palustris.
Wild rose. Ah-weh-ha-tah-ke, Red flower. This is also called from its medicinal use, Ko-tot-hot-ah, It stops diarrhoea.
Ka-nus-ta-che, Black stick, may be Black Alder, or perhaps a Viburnum.
Crab apple. O-yah-hon-we, Real apple. This is the old name for the wild crab, but is now transferred to the Siberian crab apple.
Beech-drops. Och-ke-ah-kfck-hah, It grows on beech grounds.
American Yew. O-ne-te-o-ne, Hemlock that lies dowm.
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INDIAN NAMES.
Samphire. O-heah gwe-yah, Fingers. Commonly used with Kit-kit, thus meaning Chicken's fingers, or toes.
Bladder-nut. Oost-tah-wen-sa, Rattles.
Buckwheat. Te-ya-nah-cha-too-ken-ha, Square seed.
Crinkle root. (Dentaria.) O-ech-ken-tah, Braid, in allusion to its zig-zag form.
Carrot. O-jeet-kwah-ne-uk-ta-ha-ta, Yellow root.
Mustard and Ox-eye daisy. Ko-hen-tuk-wus, It takes away your field. This is applied to some other troublesome weeds.
Grass. O-win-oka is grass grown to its full height. Short grass, as in turf, is O-je-go-chah.
Flower is Ah weh-hah, but flower-seed is O-tach-ha.
Forest is Kah-hah, and Kah-hah-goon-wah, In the woods.
Ash. Ka-hen-we-yah. This differs somewhat from another form, and seems to have reference to a boat. It is the Black Ash.
White Ash is Ka-neh, and a variety growing by the water and used for baskets is Ka-neh-ho-yah, Another kind of Ash.
Of the following I could not obtain the primary meaning.
Sugar maple. Ho-whah-tah.
Beech. Oech-keh-a.
Butternut tree. Oo-ha-wat-tah. The nut is Oo-sook-kwa.
Late grey willow. Oo-seh-tah.
Sumac. Oot-koo-tah.
Currant. Ska-hens-skah-he.
Maize. Oo-ne-hah. White corn is Oo-na-hah-keh-ha-tah, and there are names for other varieties.
Sweet flag is Oo-a-hoot-tah. The name of the wild iris differs but little.
Peas are O-na-kwa, and beans, Oo-sah-ha-tah.
Wild cherry. A-e. The red cherry is Ja-e.
Potato. Oo-neh-noo-kwa.
Birch. Oo-na-koon-sah.
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INDIAN NAMES.
· Hickory. A-nek. The bitter nut kind is Us-teek, while the common nut is Oo-sook-wah.
Golden rod. O-yun-wa. Snake root. O-skwen·e-tah.
Sunflower. O-ah-wen-sa.
Prickly ash. Ke-un-ton.
Elm. Oo-koh-ha-tah. Alder. Too-see-sa.
A tree is Kai-en-ta, and a shrub O-hoon-tah.
Horse. Koo-sah-tis, Rider, perhaps one ridden.
Cow. Teu-hone-skwa-hent, Bunch on the face, from the protu- berance in chewing the cud.
Beaver. O-no-ka-yah-ke, It cuts off trees.
Fox. Ska-nux-ha, Mischievous.
Porcupine. O-ne-ha-tah, Full of prickles.
Sheep. Teu-te-nah-kien-tun, Horns on.
Rabbit. Tah-hoo-tah-na-ke, Two ears together. The small kind is Kwa-ye-eh-ah.
Skunk. Neet-tus, He breaks wind.
House mouse. Che-ten-ah, Small mouse. To this add Ske- non-to, Deer, for the wood mouse. The field mouse is Jun- kwi-se, and the rat, Che-ten-goo-nah. Big mouse.
Mole. Che-neugh-kae-ha, Bad nose and bad hands.
Bat. Tah-hun-tike-skwa, Ear biter.
Flying squirrel. Tok-wah-soon-tun. Flies and spreads itself.
The black and grey squirrels are Juk-ha-tah-kee; the red, Hi- se: the chipmuck, Tuch he-yuh.
Raccoon. Ju-a-kuk, and the woodchuck, Oo-nok-kent.
Bear. Oo-kwa-e. Wolf Tah-he-yo-ne. Deer. Ske-non-to. Cat. Tah-goos. The dog is Che-pah, and two dogs, Ta-heech- e-hah.
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INDIAN NAMES.
Weasel. Chu-tah-kwa-haen-ke.
Mink. Chu-jah-kok.
Muskrat. An-nook-keah.
The Onondagas have comparatively few bird names. Bird it- self is Ka-yu-huh.
Robin. Jis-kah-kah, from its note. It varies slightly in the various dialects.
Crow. Kah-kah, also from its note, but with a slower utter- ance.
Henhawk. Ta-ka-yah-tach-kwa, It picks up the body, or any- thing else.
Eagle. Skah-je-a-nah, Big claves.
Humming bird. Che-hone-wa-ge. Shining tail, or perhaps re- ferring to the whole form.
Heron. Ne-ah-sa-kwa-tah, Crooked neck.
Owl. Kaek-hoo-wah, Big feathery thing.
Long eared owl. Tah-hoon-too-whe, Putting his ears in water, or bringing them together. The screech owl is Kwi-yeh.
Oriole .- Jo-heung-ge.
Bobolink. Neet tus, Skunk, from its color, this being the name of that animal.
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