HUMPDUMPLE - [Fearsome Critter]

 "The HUMPDUMPLE."- [latin name: Buddicus Spuddicus] - aka: Erdäpfelmann

• About this critter: A shy, cyclopean, warty-potato-shaped, near-sighted, 'Dwarf' who galavants around the deep woods before dawn: "he stumbles and stamps along—thump, thump, clumpy clump!" – making deep holes in the paths that guides worked so hard to make flat… he has abnormally heavy, paving stone-like feet.

•History & Early appearances: The Humpdumple is a fearsome critter from artchilds 1925's “Yearns of the big woods.” - this one was (probably jokingly) used to explain why Lumps and deep holes would suddenly appear in forest paths overnight. - [Notably: 'bigfoot's' name as we know it was popularized during the 1950s. - however, 'Sasquatch' predates that [the word was coined in the 1920's] Notably the humpdumple was published close to time the first 'footprint samples' for Bigfoot where taken. - So, it could be that the 'humpdumple' was made to poke fun at the news from the time.] - The included story of the 'humpdumple' yarn goes as follows:

"

[1925 newspapers: "QUEER YARNS OF THE NORTHWOODS"]

If it wasn't for the humpdumple this would be a fine road," sighs the Old Guide, shaking his head."Doesn't do much good, though, to fix up a road and then have that old rascal come along and ruin it."
    "And what's the humpdumple?" asks the wide-eyed "tenderfoot," to whom all the sights and sounds of the great woods of the North are strange. "I never heard of him before. Is he some kind of animal?"
    "Well, yes and no," answers the Old Guide, squinting thoughtfully at the top of a tall pine tree. "He's a kind of queer mixture. He's a smart little fellow, but mean as they make them. Us guides certainly hate him. He makes more trouble than a bunch of lions and tigers."
    "What does he do?" aks the tenderfoot nervously, feeling a little uneasy in the silence of the Big Woods, where his feet make no sound on the soft carpet of pine needles which almost cover the narrow, bumpy road, or, rather, path, which they are following deeper and deeper into the forest.
    Then the Old Guide, who loves nothing better than to fool a stranger by telling in his solemn way about some freakish animal or bird which is supposed to be found in the Big Woods, describes this famous troublemaker—the humpdumple.
    "He's the one that's responsible for all the holes you see in this road. Of course we wouldn't let a trail get in such bad shape as this if we could help it. We build a pretty good 
road, all nice and smooth, and as soon as it's done this old humpdumple sneaks out some night and just spoils it in no time.
    "He's a queer-looking, shy little fellow and only sneaks out when he's pretty sure there's nobody around. I know just one fellow, Snowshoe Bill, that's seen him. He says he is a funny little dwarf, kind of warty all over like a potato. He has a big nose and one eye, and because he has only one eye he can't see where he's going very well, and stumbles all the time.
    "The worst thing about him is his feet. They're heavy as big paving stones and he stumbles and stamps along—thump, thump, clumpety clump—leaving big holes and ruts in the road wherever it's a bit soft. He's a mean customer, yessir, and if you can think of any way to catch him, you'll be doing these woods some real good, I can tell you."

The name is most likely is just a pun on 'Humpty Dumpty' which dates back to the late 1700s! (No connection aside from the name. its likely just to be a joke, as is the latin name.) There’s really not much else to say other than what I’m sure you’re thinking: yes, humpdumple also predates “Mr Potato Head” by about 30 years!

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) - Part of my Fearsome Critters american folklore sticker collection, weather-resistant 4" Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!