Origin of hobbits

[Elyse610]

Since ents and men were the original 2 races, where do you think the hobbits came from? Are they their own species or a mixed breed?

[Eruve]

You mean Elves and Men were the two original races, right? Hobbits are men who happen to be shorter and have hairier feet. Tolkien mentions this in Letters. I think there was a thread discussing this a while back; if I find it I'll link you to it.

BTW your user name gives me a shock every time I see it... My daughter's name is Elyse... And my user name is an Elvish translation of Elyse!!

[Eruve]

I guess the tread I had in mind wasn't on this board. (I post on too many of these things to keep it all straight...) Here is the quote from Letters I was referring to: "The Hobbits are, of course, really meant to be a branch of the specifically human race (not Elves or dwarves)... They are entirely without non-human powers, but are represented as being more in touch with 'nature' (the soil and other living things, plants and animals), and abnormally, for humans, free from ambition or greed of wealth..." This is taken from Letter # 131, from a footnote by JRRT to his own letter.