Myths About Animals and Mythical Creatures

Imagine receiving an owl with a letter from Hogwarts that finally found you, opening doors to a new school year at the legendary school of magic and witchcraft. The coming year promises many significant meetings, thrilling adventures with friends, and encounters with magical creatures. In your list of required textbooks for visiting Diagon Alley, you’ll certainly find this fascinating bestiary. This book from a popular series will introduce you to fantastic creatures from myths and legends of different cultures and peoples around the world—from Japan and the British Isles to Scandinavia and America. You’ll learn about omens and beliefs connected to real animals. You’ll find information on how ordinary cats can turn into man-eaters, how long it takes a dragoness to incubate an egg, and how demonic dogs of Britain—such as Gabriel’s hounds, the Black Shuck, the Barguest, and the Grim—differ from one another, as well as who the Hound of the Baskervilles dog really was. You’ll discover what onocentaurs, ichthyocentaurs, and bucentaurs look like, and why the mardgail—a werewolf from Armenian mythology—is dangerous. In the book, you’ll also find the solution to the Sphinx’s riddle, sort out different types of dragons and griffins, and meet the wise centaur Chiron—mentor of gods and heroes.