Why does Jody, from the novel The Red Pony, name his colt Gabilan?

In
Steinbeck's early novella, , the main character, Jody Tiflin receives a red colt from his father
which he names Gabilan. In Spanish, gabilan or gavilan, means sparrow hawk. It is the name of
the mountain range that borders the boy's family ranch in the Salinas Valley. Hawks, especially
red-tailed hawks, are numerous in this area and throughout California.

Steinbeck's best novels, , , ,andare all set in California. Steinbeck grew up in the
Salinas Valley and he describes that area beautifully in his stories. In the opening chapter of
the novella Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie camp next to the Salinas River at the foot of the
Gabilan Mountains. The "rocky Gabilan Mountains" are west of the fertile Salinas
Valley and run through much of Monterey and San Benito County. They are the high range to the
west as you drive north on the 101 freeway through King City, Soledad, Gonzales and Salinas.