Orphan Bird

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The Orphan Bird (also known as the Orphanay or Rafanay) is a legendary bird from medieval bestiaries. It had a peacock's neck, an eagle's beak, a swan's feet, and a crane's body. It would lay its eggs in the sea. The good eggs would float, while the bad eggs would sink. [1]

Bestiary compendium of beasts

A bestiary, or bestiarum vocabulum, is a compendium of beasts. Originating in the ancient world, bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals and even rocks. The natural history and illustration of each beast was usually accompanied by a moral lesson. This reflected the belief that the world itself was the Word of God, and that every living thing had its own special meaning. For example, the pelican, which was believed to tear open its breast to bring its young to life with its own blood, was a living representation of Jesus. The bestiary, then, is also a reference to the symbolic language of animals in Western Christian art and literature.

Eagle large carnivore bird

Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, not all of which are closely related. Most of the 60 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just 14 species can be found—2 in North America, 9 in Central and South America, and 3 in Australia.

Swan large water bird

Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus Cygnus. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six or seven living species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition, there is another species known as the coscoroba swan, although this species is no longer considered one of the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, although “divorce” sometimes occurs, particularly following nesting failure, and if a mate dies, the remaining swan will take up with another. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.

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Hugh of Fouilloy French cleric

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Caladrius white bird from Roman mytholgoy with healing abilities

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Avalerion fictional bird

Avalerion or alerion is a term for a heraldic bird. Historically, it referred to the regular heraldic eagle. Later heralds used the term alerion to refer to "baby eagles" or "eaglets". To differentiate them from mature Eagles, Alerions were shown as an Eagle Displayed Inverted without a beak or claws (disarmed). To difference it from a decapitate (headless) eagle, the Alerion has a bulb-shaped head with an eye staring towards the Dexter of the field. This was later simplified in modern heraldry as an abstract winged oval.

<i>Ashmole Bestiary</i> English illuminated manuscript with descriptions and miniatures of animals

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Hercinia bird of Medieval legends

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Hydrus (legendary creature) legendary creature from medieval Europe

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A legendary, mythical, and mythological creature, also called a fabulous beast and fabulous creature, is a supernatural animal, often a hybrid, sometimes part human, whose existence has not or cannot be proved and that is described in folklore but also in historical accounts before history became a science.

Gryph

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the gryph is a type of fictional monster.

Rochester Bestiary illuminated manuscript copy of a medieval bestiary

The Rochester Bestiary is a richly illuminated manuscript copy of a medieval bestiary, a book describing the appearance and habits of a large number of familiar and exotic animals, both real and legendary. The animals' characteristics are frequently allegorised, with the addition of a Christian moral.

References

  1. ↑ "Orphan Bird". The Medieval Bestiary . Retrieved 2008-12-28.


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