The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic. John Matthews

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      BIAST BHEULACH

      According to Scottish Hebridean legend, the Biast Bheulach haunted the Ordail Pass on the Isle of Skye. It could appear as a man with only one leg but its howling cries were like those of a great greyhound. Those who had to travel through the pass hurried through it hoping not to meet the beast. A sign that the Biast Bheulach had been abroad was when a man was found dead at the roadside with two wounds upon his body. Those who examined his body could not account for the nature of the wounds for there was no animal or human upon the island who could have made them.

      BIAST NA SROGNIG

      This water horse or Each Uisge with ungainly legs haunted the waters around the Hebridean islands of Scotland. It was distinguished by a single horn that rose from its head, which is where its name derives ‘the beast with the single horn’. It is the only form of water-borne Unicorn in Britain.

      BICHA

      According to Spanish legend, the Bicha was a monster with the head of a man and the body of a bull. (See Minotaur.)

      BICORNE

      In medieval Europe, the Bicorne or Bulchin was a well-fed panther with a human face and snarling grin which fed upon husbands whose wives nagged them. Bicorne’s mate was the Chichelvache. This chauvinistic pair of creatures were often the subject of medieval misericords (lift-up seats in churches), depicting the lot of husbands and wives.

      BIDA

      Bida is an African dragon. Among the people of West Africa, in the Epic of the Dausa, the tale is told of a hero called Lagarre (see below).

      BIG FISH OF ILIAMNA

      In legends of the Tanaina peoples of subarctic Alaska, the Big Fish is a monster that chases fishing boats, taking big bites out of their hulls so that the fishermen fall into the freezing seas and drown.

      BIG OWL

      Among the Apache of North America, the Big Owl is a cannibalistic monster who, like the Basilisk, petrifies victims with his glance. Among the Lipan Indians, Big Owl is a giant, a son of the Sun, who tries to marry the daughter of a hero into order to kill him. According to the White Mountain Apache,

      Lagarre, alone of his brothers, tended his dying father. The old king wished to impart to him the secrets of kingship and bade him seek nine jars of water that would make the one who washed in them into a king who would be rich and obeyed by all. He also told his son to fetch the royal drum, Tabele, from heaven and strike it in the desert. A vulture helped Lagarre fetch the drum and when he struck it, the beautiful city of Wagadoo sprang out of the desert. But he could not reach the city for his way was barred by Bida who encircled the city with his body. Lagarre had to swear to give the dragon a girl every year in exchange for access to the city. Every year of Lagarre’s kingship, a lottery was held to determine which family would have to give its daughter to the dragon. And, in return, after having fed upon her flesh, Bida would fly over Wagadoo and spew gold into its streets. Three successive generations of kings maintained Lagarre’s promise, giving the city prosperity and peace. However, when one girl was left, dressed as a bride, to be devoured by Bida, her lover, Mamadi Sefe Dekote (of the Silent Sword) severed the dragon’s head. Its head flew away to the Gold Coast where, it is said, gold is now plentiful.

      Big Owl tried to kill all the created people but was in turn slain by his own brother.

      BIGFOOT

      Also known as Sasquatch, Bigfoot is the humanoid creature 7–8 ft tall which haunts parts of the forested and mountainous regions of North America. He is known from both Native American legend as well as the folklore of settlers and hunters. Covered with long black or brown hair, with huge hands and feet, he walks at the angled incline of a skier. Intensely shy and very strong, able to snap great trees in two, Bigfoot has received over 3,000 sightings since 1967 when three men filmed a few minutes’ footage of a supposed female Bigfoot. Her arms were about 30 ins long, much longer in proportion to the body than in a human, falling to well below her hips.

      The Coeur d’Alene tribes around Spokane speak of Bigfoot as Tree Men with black faces and skin like bear’s fur. They emitted a strong odour not unlike burning horn and stood higher than a tepee. They stole fish out of traps and could transform themselves into trees when required. This is not unlike the report made in the 1930s in New Hampshire, where Bigfoot were referred to as Wood Devils, humanoid, grey-haired beings in the deep woodland who can run fast but camouflage themselves by hiding against a tree if anyone approaches.

      An Appalachian settler’s story tells how a man was lost in the wilderness and crawled exhausted into a cave. He was awakened by a hairy woman eating chestnuts which she offered to the lost man. She brought him a deer, ripping through the hide with her nails and offered him some raw slices. He then made a fire to cook it, but the Bigfoot did not understand what fire was and she stepped into it. Throughout the winter, the man stayed with her and she conceived a child by him. Towards the end of his time in the wilderness, he saw a large number of Bigfoots coming towards the cave. Terrified, the man began to run away. When the female Bigfoot saw he was going, she took their child and tore it open with her nails.

      (See also Boq, Seatco, Tsiatko, Yeahoh, Yeti.)

      BILIKU

      Among the Andamanese Islanders in the Bay of Bengal, where the weather is a predominant concern, Biliku is a female spider who represents the ferocious north-west monsoon. Biliku is married to the mild south-west monsoon, Taria.

      The animal ancestors of the Andamanese were the descendants of Biliku, brought into being one stormy night when Lizard decided to hold a dancing party. He became so wild and strong that everyone grew frightened. Whenever anyone tried to catch him, Lizard threw them into the sea, turning them into all kinds of fish and turtles. The one who stopped him was Berep, a crab. Biliku’s son was the great hunting spider, Da Tengat, who brought the first cooking and who caused the first darkness.

      BILLDAD

      In North American lumberjack lore, the Billdad is a beaver-sized creature with large hind-legs like a kangaroo or hare, webbed feet and a hawk-like bill. It lives on fish by lurking in the reeds and leaping down on them by slapping its tail up and down until the fish is stunned. Mature Billdads could leap up to 60 ft.

      BILOKO

      Among the people of central Zaire in Africa, Biloko are giants with snouts like crocodiles, adapted to eat human flesh, preferring female flesh to that of the male kind. Some prefer the eyes, others the liver or heart. There are also dwarf Biloko (sometimes called Eloko) with hands like those of the gorilla.

      BINAYE AHANI

      Among the Navajo of the North American СКАЧАТЬ