Muglump – [fearsome critter]

Description

Muglump – [Fearsome Critter] – [Latin: Fustiscauda borgesia]

• About this critter: A terrifyingly toxic-creature with a perpetually swollen, lumpy face, webbed feet, and a spiked-club-like tail; it lurked near streams and in low, marshy woodland. Peripatetic lumbermen pondered; the pests pustulous pug-face and perplexing poisonous presence polluted all ponds in its its proximity!! Wise wayfarers would always wash their water and watch for the webbed-prints before taking a swill, lest they perish from lecherous lochs; But still this beast would often bound backwards out of the bush, battling & bashing any bone-dry thirsty bandits to a pulp, using its bludgeon-like booty!

• History: Yet another critter which was published in news columns from 1922-1925 “Yarns of the Bigwoods” illustrated and described by retired game warden; Art Childs, the yarn goes as such:

“Did you ever have swellings in your throat and face after being out in the woods camping or hiking?
The old-time lumberjack says that such trouble comes from drinking water from unprotected water holes and streams that are hang-outs for the mug-lump.
“Never heard of a mug-lump!” the old lumberjack will exclaim. “Well, that shows you’ve never been in these woods before.”
“He’s a web-footed animal with large, dog-like head. There’s a great lump on one side of his face, and that’s how he gets his name. The worst thing about him is his tail, which is big and heavy, and all spiked like a war club. When he’s angry he fights backward, swinging that dangerous tail of his.
“The mug-lump lives along streams and in low, marshy woodlands. There’s something poisonous about his ugly face, for wherever a mug-lump is found there you’ll find water unsafe to drink. Before taking a drink I always look around carefully for his tracks, and you’d better do the same.”

The description makes it seem like a critter which might have been used to ‘explain’ seasonal allergies in a jiffy or perhaps it was simply a warning about drinking unsafe waters when out in the wilds. (As with others described by childs, what better way to remind youngsters to stay safe, than to attach a creature to the warning!) – Notably; the creature appears to only have 3 legs; so, id suppose, that if its tail wasn’t so big and heavy, it would constantly stumble over forwards onto its ugly mug! – Although it indeed ‘fights with its wump’; On that note, this “Mug-Lump” perhaps should not to be overly conflated with similarly named “American Mugwump” – [Political slang dating back to the 1820’s & later a variety of critters often representing political “fence-sitters” … Overall the “Mugwump” name is fairly common among critters & cryptids in north america and canada, thus, there are several variations and off-shoots to it! – (There’s a Canadian Lake Monster, and a real world fish (Australian sturgeon) which share the ”Mugwump” name as well!) – So, Perhaps this “Muglump” takes its name from that general direction? but its difficult to say for certain, so, I will avoid giving it any such validation. – Speaking of, Because this critter somewhat resembles a “ball-tailed cat” in both shape & fighting style, I’ve categorized it among them, however they describe its face as ‘dog-like’ so overall this is also unclear!! (childs and my own illustration resembles that of a cat more so than a dog?…) – Above all; i really wish i knew why it wears a cap?! I suppose it somewhat resembles a stereotypical elementary school kid/bully, which helps exaggerate the fact that its ‘toxic’. Though, I’d suppose if you have an ‘ugly mug’ might as well try appear ‘smart’ with a nice cap to offset the ugliness…Though, that does imply an intelligence not described…[Incidentally on the note of the cap; Lenwood Sharpe’s choice of latin name seems to stem from spike tailed dinosaurs + a fashion brand? …I think…?] quite the perplexing critter! 

[art sticker by @samkalensky (yo thats me!) part of my fearsome critters collection of stickers! follow and support for many more!]