Urisk               

Living in the Scottish highlands, the Urisk is a faerie that is part-man part-goat. It is said that they live in waterfalls. At times they will help farmers with there tasks. Although they are not evil creatures, they will sometimes terrorize people by following them through lonely places.

Tuatha de danann                           

Form the Irish meaning Children of the Goddess Danu, Tuatha de Danann is probably the most important race of færies. The had a monarchical society, and they were a magical race. The Tuatha de Danann flew into Ireland with their four magical possessions: The Lia Fail (stone of destiny), the spear of their warrior god Lug, the sword of Nuadu, and the inexhaustible cauldron of the god good the Dagda. They banished the Firbolg and defeated the demonic Fomorians. Many centuries later they were defeated and driven to their otherworldly kingdom, Tir nan Og by the Milesians. There in Tir nan Og, they remain ageless and beautiful, still practicing magic. Many think that all færies are descended from the race of Tuatha de Danann.

Selkie                      

Living off the coasts of the Orkney and Sheltland islands, these seal-people live under the water. Also called Silkie and Selchie, their normal appearance is human, however, they have seal skins with which they swim through the sea. When Selkies come ashore, they hide this seal skin. If a man finds a selkie maiden's seal-skin and can successfully hide it from her, he can force her to marry him. If however, at any point, the selkie finds her skin, she will return to the sea. They say that male selkies can take human lovers. It is also said that people born with webbed hands or feet are selkie-born.

Redcap

A malevolent goblin, redcaps are easily distinguishable for their namesake red hat and fiery red eyes. Their caps are red because they dip them in the blood of their human victims. Redcaps wears iron boots, but are swift on their feet. They reside in castles and watchtowers along the English-Scottish border, however, they move their residence often to avoid detection. Redcaps have sharp eagle's talons with which they kill humans. Short and stock, redcaps have long white beards and look like old men. Like any goblin, all that is needed to repel them is the use of holy words.

Puck               

Pucks are pixie-like creatures that reside in the southern counties of England. Pucks, unlike pixies are on good terms with  Having no interest in domesticated animals, pucks are beneficial to all plants and wild animals. Mischievous like many spirits, pucks like to play harmless tricks on humans. There tricks can, however, become quite severe in revenge of a maiden who has been scorned by her lover. They enjoy dancing to the sounds of a flute. They were sometimes called by Shakespeare and others of that time, Robin-Good-Fellows. In that time they were in the form of satyrs. Puck however from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, was not a puck, but rather, a hobgoblin.

Pixie               

Usually no larger than a human hand, a pixie is human-like with red hair and green eyes. They have upturned noses and malicious smiles. They usually wear tight fitting green clothes. Pixies have the ability to change their size at will. They are tricksters who like to lead humans astray. However, they can be foiled if a man wears his coat inside out. Their origin is not known, but it has been said that the pixies were the first to welcome the faeries when they arrived in England. Then, fearing that they would be taken over, the pixies waged war on the færies. Farmers embrace the presence of pixies and do certain things to please them, and therefore keep them on the farm. At night, farmers will leave a bucket of water out so mother pixies can wash their babies, they'll leave milk out for them to drink and they'll sweep the hearth so that the pixies have a clean place to dance. Pixies are usually found in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.

Nuckalavee               

An Irish version of the centaur, it is said that the breath of this beast brought the plague.

kelpie               

A Kelpie, in Scottish legend is a creature, that is said to be in league with the devil. Usually it is a black beast, part horse and part bull, with two sharp horns. It has the ability to change its shape and usually when it did, it would take the form of a beautiful white horse. If passersby mounted the horse it would immediately gallop into the water and drown the rider. The Kelpie would then eat the flesh of the drowned victim. In other stories, the Kelpie would take the form of a handsome young man. However, the man would always have wet hair with waterweed tangled in it. If a young woman did not notice this, she would go to the man that is wooing her, and lead her to a watery grave.

hag               

There are different forms of hags. The hag from European folklore is supernaturally ugly, associated with the devil and depicted sometimes as a witch. Hags are known to use a human as a mount and will "ride" them in their sleep, hence the term 'hag-ridden'. During sleep, a hag will climb onto a man's stomach or chest and will "ride" him. This will cause the man great discomfort and nightmares, and even, if the hag continues to ride the man, death.

In Celtic mythology a hag is an ancient spirit, usually seen carrying rocks in her apron which, when dropped, can cause mountains to form. it is said that if two hags are heard arguing, you should retreat indoors, for it may begin to rain boulders and trees.

There is also and Irish hag that helps out in the household with the spinning.

gytrash               

This sprit from northern England haunts lonely roads awaiting travelers. Sometimes they take the shape of horses or dogs. Usually feared, they can also be benevolent, guiding lost travelers on the right road.

gwyllion               

Sometimes taking the form of goats, these Welsh female færies are hideous in appearance. They hide at roadsides, often making travelers become lost. They should be welcomed into a house or they can become offended and will cause mischief.

grendel               

In the eighth century English epic called Beowulf, the monster Grendel is descibed. Grendel is a giant, half-man and half-monster. Every night Grendel would terrorize the hall of the Danish King Hrothgar, killing thiry of his men nightly. This started a terrible feud between Hrothgar's court and Grendel that would last many years. Each night the creature would return and murder and destroy and no one could stop him, as he was under an enchantment that made Grendel invulnerable to a sword. Eventually, Beowulf came to Hrothgar's court and swore that he would kill the beast. When Grendel arrived, Beowulf wrestled with the creature, eventually using great strength to rip Grendel's arm off. The arm was nailed up as a trophy in the court. Grendel retreated to his cave and died of the wound and of his great misery at the fact that he had lost his only pleasure: tormenting and killing those in Hrothgar's hall. After witnessing the death of her son, Grendel's mother, a beast scarcely less terrible than her son, a water-troll, determined to avenge her son. She came at night to the hall and tore down her son's arm. Beowulf followed her and saw her disappear into the waters of Dark Lake. He was attacked by serpents and brought to her cave. A terrible battle ensued and even though he had been terribly wounded by her claws, Beowulf killed Grendel's mother. Upon doing this, he noticed an enormus sword. This was the only sword that could harm Grendel. So he used it and lopped off the head of the creature and carried it back to the hall as a trophy.

fomorian               

These were a savage group who became sea demons. They were another of the original groups that invaded Ireland. Ultimately, they were defeated by Tuatha de Denann,and they were driven into the sea.

firbolgs               

According to Irish legend, firbolgs were a race of beings from Europe who invaded Ireland. They were conquered by another group of beings, the Fomorians. They were later banished from Ireland by Tuatha de Danann. Their name means "people of the bogs".

fachen               

The Fachen is a monster from Irish legend. It is known to pursue and mutilate travelers, eventually killing them. It is covered by with feathers, having a tuft of them which grew like a comb on a cock's head. It has one mangled hand that grows from the center of its chest, and one leg that grows out of its body at an angle. It also has one eye set in the middle of its forehead. To look more menacing, it would ruffle up its feathers before attacking its victims.

ellyllon               

The Ellyllon are benevolent Welsh elves. They are much like brownies as they will help out with household chores. Also like the brownies, they will leave the house if they are offended, or if their privacy is invaded.

each usige               

Much like the Kelpie and the Brag, these Celtic water horses found in the Scottish Highlands and in some parts of Ireland do not like humans. Unlike the Kelpie, the each uisge prefers lochs and sea inlets. The each uisge takes the appearance of a beautiful horse and beckons for a traveler to mount. If he does, he will be taken on a wild ride ending up underwater, where he will drown and be devoured by the each uisge.

dracae               

Dracae are traditional English water spirits. According to legend, these shape-shifting spirts float down rivers in the form of wooden dishes. In this way they tempt women into the water to try and recover the dishes. The dracae then change to their human shape to drag the women down to the river bed. The captured human women are required to nurse Dracae children.

cyroeraeth               

A variation of the Banshee legends, this Welsh creature was said to give warning of impending death. Heard only at crossroads or near a river, the cry of the Cyroeraeth was accompanied by splashing water. Although it was very rarely seen, the Cyroeraeth has been described as a woman with tangled hair and long withered arms. Its face was described as withered and ghastly, and it had long black teeth.

corrigan               

A corrigan is a Celtic færie. A native of Brittany, this druidess is known to steal away healthy human babies and replace them with changelings. She is set on causing mischief and mayhem for Christians.

coblynau               

This Welsh race of little people live in the mines, and guide miners to ore by their knocking. Although ugly, they are good-natured. If angered, they are known to throw stones at humans.

ceasg               

A Scottish mermaid, the ceasg are half-human, and half salmon. They are know to marry humans and the offspring of this combination are great sailors. If captured, a ceasg will grant three wishes. The ceasg is also known to use her beauty to lure sailors to her, and they never return.

bwbachod               

The Bwbachod, Bwca, or Bwbach is a Welsh household spirit. In many ways, it is like a brownie, performing tasks when appreciated, but becoming mischievous and destructive when offended (and are easily offended). Bwbachods detest non-drinkers and ministers of the church.

bugbear               

The bugbear is one of the English hobgoblins. Having the appearance of a bear (hence its name), it was considered quite fierce and it was common to use the fear of it to coerce children into good behaviour.

bucca               

The bucca is a hobgoblin from the legends of Cornwall. They are commonly thought to live in tin mines, and in this way are very similar to the kobold of German tales. The bucca are often associated with sailors and stories say they travel on sea breezes. They are considered useful to sailors as they are known for their ability to foretell shipwrecks, but they need to be "paid" with offerings of part of the fisherman's catch or a few bread crumbs.

brag               

A brag is a goblin from England. It is a shape-shifter, but usually takes on the appearance of a horse. It then lures men to mount it. Once mounted, the brag will take the rider for a terrible ride, finally leaving him in a pond.

bogle               

The bogle, which is closely related to the puck and the boggart. It is a Scottish hobgoblin that sometimes causes mischief to those who have committed petty crimes, on behalf of the victims.

bogie               

Bogies are small creatures, sometimes spirits, that love the darkness. Often hiding in cupboards and closets, bogies are known to be mischievous and wicked. Sometimes they are known to be shape-shifters; they are depicted as large clouds of dust or dirt. Coming from English legend these underground creatures are known to be harmful in the daylight.

bodach               

In Scottish Gælic bodach means 'old man'. This was a spirit or bogie that would come down the chimney of a house and either steal children or terrorize them, poking and pulling at the child, thus inducing nightmares. It was said that the bodach would only bother naughty children, and in defense a child could put salt in the hearth, as the bodach would not cross salt.

black dogs               

In Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hounds of the Baskervilles, he describes a black dog, just like the ones that appear in British legends. "...there stood a foul thing, a great black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon." It is said, in legend, that if one spied, or spoke to one of these large dogs (the size of a calf or larger) he was bound to die. They are also known to have eyes that shine in the dark. In Scotland, tales of the cu sith, or færie hound was also known to foretell death or illness.

black annis               

Black Annis dwells in the moors and hillsides of the Scottish Highlands. She is witch-like in appearance with blue skin and a single piercing eye, often described as a hideous old hag. If she captures human beings, she eats them, and she is usually reported as sitting on a pile of bones outside a cave. If human beings aren't available, she will eat sheep or deer

bendith               

Bendith and Mamau are a clan of Welsh Færies. These ugly creatures (which could be the result of interbreeding between Færies and goblins) are known to kidnap children. In doing this, they replace the kidnapped child with one of their own, called a crimbil. If a child is recovered from the Bendith Y Mamau, they do not remember anything, except notions of sweet music.

bean-nighe               

This variation on the Banshee could be found in the legends of Ireland, Scotland and Brittany. The name 'Bean-Nighe' means washer woman. She was called this as she was usually seen washing bloody garments at the water's edge. her feet were webbed like those of a duck or goose. If a traveler saw her before she spied him, he would survive, however, if she spied him first, he would die. In the Scottish Highlands, it was thought that only those about to die could see her.

banshee               

The banshee in Irish Gælic, is called 'bean sidhe', which means 'supernatural woman'. She is envisioned with a sunken nose, scraggy hair and huge hollow eye sockets. Her eyes are fiery red from continuous weeping. She wears a tattered white sheet flapping around her. She wails outside the door of someone who is about to die, but only for old families. All the best clans have their own private banshee. They are very closely related to the bean-nighe and cointeach.

amadán               

This is one of many types of Irish færies. The Amadán are to be feared as even a faint touch from one can cause instant and complete paralysis. They are sometimes known because of this, as the stroke lads. They are particularly dangerous to criminals or to people who walk in the moonlight, and are particularly active in the month of June.

All material courtesy of:

 Gareth Long's Encyclopedia of Monsters,  Mythical Creatures and Fabulous Beasts (or, the encyclopedia of monsters etc.)

http://webhome.idirect.com/%7Edonlong/monsters/monsters.htm

E-mails discussing use of his information were not returned and no mention of sources or copyright were recorded on his site. I appreciate the wonderful work he has done on his site.  Please visit it and check out the other monsters from around the world!!