Robyn Woodbridge

FABULOUS BEASTES
L
U I D E T O T H E E G E N D AR Y W I L D L I F E O F BRITAIN AND EUROPE

A G

AUSTIN

MACAULEY

Copyright Robyn Woodbridge Illustrations by Angela Hawker

The right of Robyn Woodbridge to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 84963 153 2

www.austinmacauley.com First Published (2012) Austin & Macauley Publishers Ltd. 25 Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5LB

Printed & Bound in Great Britain

Introduction:
It is widely said that every legend, however exaggerated, has some basis in reality. This is particularly true in the case of animals for example it was taken as fact for several centuries that barnacle geese were born from actual barnacles simply because their nesting habits went unobserved. Assumptions like this came about because the lifestyles and appearances of the animals in question were misunderstood by those writing about them. This was also true of the creatures featured in this book. Like all animals, their behaviour and features evolved to fit their environments. However, because these animals are rarely seen and they are so different from other, more commonly sighted wildlife in Britain and Europe, they have only recently been discovered to exist outside of legend and folklore. Some of them seem to be hybrids of different creatures, others seem to be beasts that cannot possibly exist, but they have simply been recorded incorrectly until now. This handbook will help you to understand the truth behind their legendary and sometimes fantastic features and to recognise them should you ever be lucky enough to see them in their natural environment.

How to use this book:

Each entry contains a short description of the featured animal in legend, followed by the authentic details. All information about their range and habitats should be treated as a guide rather than definitive, as there are always

exceptions and a suitable environment for the animal in question is no guarantee that it can be found there. It is also recommended that any observation of these animals is done at a distance, as many of them are either wary of humans and will flee from being watched, or are incredibly aggressive and will not hesitate to attack. Please note that while all efforts have been made to ensure that all of the entries are complete and accurate, the creatures that they describe are still under constant study and many questions about them remain unanswered. This is what is known so far. NB Some monsters of legend such as the centaurs and the fauns are not included as these stories are accounts of human deformity and can be found in other works.

MAMMALS

Achlis (Alces dactylabia)

Legend: The Achlis is a deer-like animal which must graze backwards so that its large lip does not fall over its face and which has no knees (Works of Pliny the Elder). The Achlis is a close relative of the elk that inhabits woodland throughout northern Europe in small family groups. It is recognised by its extended upper lip, which is semi-prehensile and used in a manner similar to an elephant's trunk to strip vegetation and bark from trees. The Achliss large digestive system an adaptation to a diet consisting mostly of bark means it cannot put too much pressure on its underside and so will sit down as little as possible, contributing to the idea that the Achlis has no knees. This also has the effect of causing the stomach to seem bloated, although the Achliss height of typically five or six feet makes this feature unlikely to be seen unless at very close quarters. One of its strangest behaviours, not normally found in deer and more commonly displayed by bison, is that the males will move towards one another backwards when sensing danger. This movement, combined with the females and young forming a circle which the males will then encircle with their antlers outwards, serves as their main defence against predators.

Sadhuzag (Cervaurus polyceros)

Legend: The Sadhuzag is a bull-sized beast with 74 horns all over its body (European legend). A muscular deer up to six feet high at the shoulder, the Sadhuzag is distinguished by its multiple antlers. The main pair can grow up to ten inches long, but additional, smaller ones are also found on the head and bony projections that resemble horns also grow from various points on its body, including its joints. The pseudo-horns are formed of calcium deposits in a similar manner to the true antlers and appear to be relatively fragile, although still quite dense, as they are frequently broken during ruts and have no practical defensive purpose against the Sadhuzags predators. The exact number of these pseudo-horns varies between individuals, but as all of these are used during the rut by the males, those with more seem to prosper. The Sadhuzag is found throughout Europe in large herds, each dominated by a powerful elder male, feeding on grasses and various small plants.

Busse (Cervaurus sylarva)

Legend: The Busse is a bull-like creature with the head of a stag that has the ability to hide from predators by changing colour (Medieval European legend). Slightly smaller than the related Sadhuzag, only five feet at the shoulder, the Busses camouflage ability has been greatly exaggerated by legend but still seems beyond belief. Its woolly, dappled coat can blend in very effectively against both grassland and woodland areas, where the Busse feeds on grass and shoots, and the males antlers have a dulled, brownish colouring that cause them to resemble wood. Actively concealing itself in a manner not usually seen in deer, the Busse will hide from predators by squatting on the ground and concealing its head. This causes it to appear to be an earthy mound and, in the males case, its antlers will appear to be a dead tree. This camouflage can also be highly effective in the winter, when the Busses coat takes on a whiter hue and allows it to blend in against rocky

terrain by appearing to be a boulder. It appears to be confined to Eastern Europe and is most frequently seen in the Balkan states, in small herds rarely larger than twelve.

Sianach (Megaloceros sylvestris)

Legend: The Sianach is a giant deer that hunts humans (Scottish folklore). Measuring up to eight feet tall at the shoulder, the Sianach is the only living species of the prehistoric Megaloceros family of giant deer. It is also the only one that fully adapted to a woodland habitat, feeding on leaves and bark, and its antlers, although still large, are more compact than were those of the other giant deer species. Due to deforestation across Europe in recent years, the entire European population is now quite small and reduced to small pockets in northern countries and even Scotland, where the Sianach is most often sighted, may only have three or four herds (a Sianach herd commonly consists of approximately ten or so animals). Unlike most deer, the Sianach is particularly aggressive towards other animals, including humans, and will charge at a moment's notice.

Unicorn (Unicorn parthenophilus)

Legend: The Unicorn is a horse-like creature with a single horn on its forehead. It can only be caught by being drawn to the presence of a virtuous maiden (European and Middle Eastern legend). Found throughout both Europe and the Middle East, the Unicorn is one of the few legendary creatures recorded accurately by ancient chroniclers. This horse-like beast is actually a member of the deer family and typically measures up to four feet at the shoulder, although most of its height is due to the long legs which allow the Unicorn to easily outpace most predators. Its single antler (possessed by both the male and female of the species) can grow up to a foot long and is firmly rooted atop the skull, which itself has greatly reinforced bone density. The Unicorn's coat is usually light grey and has been known to turn white in the winter, although some reports suggest it can also be black or red. Some of the more colourful specimens are possibly adolescents who have not yet lost their juvenile coats, but whether Unicorn fawns are commonly these colours is yet to be determined as they are sighted even less frequently

then the adults. The stag Unicorn can also be seen to have a billy-goat like beard underneath its chin which is the only visible difference between the stag and the doe Unicorn. Although the Unicorn, like most deer, can appear rather nervous and will not respond well to attempts to capture it, it can learn to trust humans if caution and patience are shown at all times when approaching it and great care is taken to prevent alarming the creature. It is most commonly seen in isolated grasslands and meadows where it can feed without too much attention from a potential predator, in small family groups.

Cabarbaiste (Unicorn virilifortias)

Alternative Names: Baiste-na-scoghaigh, Highland Unicorn Legend: The Baiste-na-scoghiagh is a vicious horse-like creature with a single horn. It mercilessly kills weak and cowardly men (Scottish folklore). Only distantly related to its more famous counterpart, the Cabarbaiste is easily distinguished from the Unicorn by the fact that it has more hair, is more heavily built (possibly as an adaptation to colder weather and more hostile terrain) and by the twisted appearance of its foot-long horn. It was once common throughout Northern Europe, but since at least the Roman era has been confined to Scotland and northern England, where it feeds on heather and grasses. It was once popularly believed that there were no females of this species, as with the more common Unicorn, but since both sexes are almost identical in appearance, this was an understandable mistake. The legendary hatred the Cabarbaiste supposedly has for the weak is possibly a

misinterpretation of its territorial instinct, as the solitary Cabarbaiste can be extremely aggressive towards other creatures entering its territory and will furiously pursue them if they flee from it, actions easily mistaken for mercilessness on the Cabarbaistes part and for cowardice in its unlucky victim.

Zlatorog (Rupicapra chrysocorn triglav)

Legend: The Zlatorog is a magical white chamois with golden horns (Slovenian folklore). This stockier, more robust relative of the chamois is one of the rarest legendary beasts in Europe, as it is only found on Mount Triglav in Slovenia and its horns, which resemble gold in colour, sadly seem to encourage hunting by humans. It is much more common to see an individual male, as the females and young are very reclusive and are more inclined to remain in mountain valleys, where they feed on mountain grasses and heather. In contrast to the badger stripes seen on the chamois, the Zlatorog typically has a single mask around the eyes which is only slightly darker than the rest of its coat, which remains an off-white colour for the entire year. This can make it rather conspicuous against mountainous terrain, but the Zlatorogs incredible agility

and ability to take advantage of the perilous landscape of its mountain home allows it to easily elude most predators. The male will also display highly aggressive behaviour and charge violently at threats if ever cornered, a very painful way to learn just how strong this animal is. These characteristics, coupled with the sad fact that it seems to react very badly to life in captivity, has created a sensation of mystery and magic to the many hunters who have attempted to catch a Zlatorog.

Fire Ox (Bos vulcanis)

Alternative Name: Khalitauros Legend: The Khalitauri were giant, fire-breathing bulls. The Cretan Bull which fathered the Minotaur also breathed fire (Classical Greek legend). A muscular bovine measuring up to five feet tall at the shoulder, the Fire Ox lives in small herds in Eastern Europe, although the island of Crete may have once supported a small population. Both the male and the female boast thick horns, but the Fire Ox's main defence is its fiery breath, achieved by trapping methane in a large, pouch-like dewlap and belching it out at high temperature, causing the methane to spontaneously combust. This, together with the creatures imposing strength and size, means that the Fire Ox has few natural predators and the greatest threat to its numbers today appears to be lack of suitable grazing land, although Fire Oxen appear to be content to eat most kinds of vegetation. The horns and hooves of the Fire Ox have a 'metallic' colouring resembling bronze and a similar tone is sometimes seen around the lips, possibly due to a natural thickening of the skin to provide some degree of fireproofing.

Quintotaur (Bos aquatauri)

Alternative Names: Sea Cattle, Sea Bull, Sea Cow, Ophiotaurus, Crodh Sidhe Legend: Bulls with fish tails were often shown as companions of the sea god Poseidon (Classical Greek legend). The Crodh Sidhe are the sea-dwelling cattle of the fairies (Gaelic legend) Not to be confused with the manatee, the Quintotaur is a large, marine bovine, the bull frequently measuring up to nine feet in length and weighing almost two tons. Although its horns have shrunk to the point where they no longer have any practical use, they can still be clearly seen on the head. Herds consist of approximately thirty or so individual animals and several herds are found throughout the coastal and marine waters of Europe, subsisting on various kinds of marine vegetation and ranging as far north as southern Scandinavia. Despite its large size and primarily aquatic lifestyle, the Quintotaur can move on land to a limited degree and herds may occasionally venture inland. They seem to enjoy this brief change of environment and so may be spotted here as easily as in their natural environment.

Dorragow (Lutra patrirex)

Alternative names: King of the Lakes, Dobharchu, European Giant Otter Legend: The Dorragow is the father of all otters, strong enough to burrow through solid rock (Irish legend). A larger relative of the common otter, usually measuring six to eight feet, the Dorragow is now found only in Ireland as it has apparently been driven to extinction elsewhere in Europe. It is generally a light fawn in colour (sometimes ranging into white), with darker brown crosslike markings on its back. Although primarily an aquatic hunter, the Dorragow has also been known to dig for prey such as voles and is capable of excavating extensive tunnels in pursuit of prey as well as when building a holt. Its habits are otherwise the same as those of other otters but its size restricts its choice of suitable holt sites, which has sadly reduced its numbers still further in modern times.

Afanc (Castormax lacucambria)

Alternative Names: Abhac, Addanc Legend: The Afanc is a water monster said to live in various lakes and rivers and more recently described as a giant beaver (Welsh folklore) A large aquatic mammal at up to five feet long and approximately four feet tall, the Afanc typically eats fish but has been known to raid farms and steal livestock when its usual prey is in short supply. Although it is often compared to a beaver, the two species are not related and can be distinguished from one another quite easily, especially if the observer can see the Afancs long tail and hairless, almost scaly head with its extended snout. It is also solitary, although it appears that Afancs mate for life. It rarely ventures onto land and makes its home in large burrows in the banks of the river or lake where it lives. It seems to be found only in Wales and the population density of Afancs is never very high, due to their size and the subsequent problems with food supply and space. The loss of suitable

habitats since the 19th century has made this issue all the more pressing.