Duck-footed Dum-dum - [Fearsome Critter]

Regular price: $8.00
Sale price: $8.00

Tax included.

The Duck-footed Dum-dum - [Fearsome Critter] -

• About this Critter: Not many fish around lately??? – That's because the "Duckfooted‑dum‑dum" has been scared away thanks to noisy game hunters. ‑ Fish decide its spawning season only when this creature plays its back like a drum. – it is worth note: despite the name, its not an insult "Dum dum" more likely refers to the drumming sound its tails makes as it beats its back like a timpany - it is very timid, usually avoiding humans. ‑ it appears to be semi amphibious having scales, but oddly, it has no mouth, so if the drumming is meant to attract fish, there's no explanation for what benefit to the creature! ...Though, some records say it was for defence...

• History: The Duckfooted Dum-dum first appeared in 1922 newspapers "YARNS OF THE BIG WOODS" by Game Warden: Art Childs a North Wisconsin game warden. As with most of Art Childs critters, the papers claimed they existed in oral tradition and that he picked up these stories from his time working as a game warden; as 100 years have passed, we really have no way to verify much. – so I guess we'll just have to take their word for it! - The yarn goes like this: –

THE DUCK-FOOTED DUM-DUM

“Not much fish in the lake this summer,” said the old guide sadly, as he rowed with his party across the sun-flecked water where the glistening fish were supposed to be waiting hungrilly for some one to offer them bait.
“What's the matter?” asked the “chap from the city,” on his first trip into the Big Woods.
“Those know-it-all game wardens scared the duck-footed dum-dum away, that's what. Ever see a dum-dum? Funny animal. Comes around every spring. He has two tails like bass-drum sticks and swings them like lightning, beating on the tight drum-like skin on his back.”
“Well, when the fish hear this they all flock near the shore in shallow water and lay their eggs. They wouldn't know it was spawning season if they didn't hear the dum-dum. Then after they lay their eggs they go away and the dum-dum keeps watch until all the little fish are hatched out.”
“So you see when those pesky game wardens come spying around and scare off the dum-dum, we don't get any fish.” And the guide pulled glumly at his little black pipe.

later the same year the dumdum was further elaborated on by readers-submitted columns in "Tenderfoot tales" which ran in the Idaho statesmen in late 1922. - their stories speculate a reason for why the creature beats its back, ranging from mundane to sinister.