For as long as humans have inhabited the earth, we have lived alongside the multitude of other creatures with which we share our planet. However it is undoubtedly true that today most of us are not as close to the animals around us as our forebears were, and that many of the world's best loved large mammals and most beautiful birds are in danger of becoming extinct. The threats of the 21st century to the animal world make it even more pertinent to explore the many legends and folktales, myths and superstitions that reflect this past closeness, highlight our desire to explain nature's wonders and mysteries, and underline the necessity to preserve for future generations all creatures great and small. Gathered together in this fascinating book are the lore and legends of the animal world, alongside the realities of nature. Yet whatever their natural attributes, in folklore animals can do almost anything. They can be our friends and foes - and of course they can talk to each other. They can be evil witches and devils in disguise, they can bring good luck and bad. And in real life they can be our dearest companions, to the point of sheer worship.An amazing collection of fanciful superstitions, intriguing tales and amusing anecdotes, which any animal lover will truly relish.

Table of Contents:
1 Little birds that know 14 2 The cruel crocodile 15 3 Cunning as the fox 17 4 Spider talents 18 5 A complete turkey 20 6 Safe with the dolphins 21 7 The pure and gentle dove 22 8 The stupid ass 23 9 The Devil's goat 24 10 Piggy tales 26 11 Beware the bats 28 12 The swan's pure beauty 29 13 The victory eagle 31 14 Bee messengers 32 15 The helpful robin 34 16 Hippo lore 35 17 The mighty elephant 36 18 Dirty rats 38 19 A mouse in the house 40 20 Bear strength 41 21 The lion, king of the beasts 43 22 Menacing big cats 44 23 Monkey business 45 24 Fluttering by 47 25 The wisdom of salmon 48 26 The ways of the serpent 49 27 Beetle power 51 28 Cats, good and bad 52 29 The faithful dog 54 30 For love, luck and health 56 31 Animal love signs 58 32 Money and wealth 59 33 The lucky greeting 60 34 Harm them at your peril 62 35 Predicting stormy weather 63 36 Animals at home 65 37 Birds of doom 66 38 Christmas lore 67 39 Easter rites 69 40 Beware the owl 70 41 Forecasting the weather 71 42 Groundhog Day and Candlemas 73 43 Creatures of the zodiac 74 44 Aries - the ram 76 45 Taurus - the bull 77 46 Cancer - the crab 78 47 Leo - the lion 79 48 Scorpio - the sting in the tail 80 49 Capricorn - the goat 81 50 Pisces - a fishy duo 82 51 Chinese astrology 83 52 Dreams and prophecies 86 53 Healing the stomach 87 54 To cure a fever 88 55 The dreaded cough 90 56 Blood letting leeches 91 57 To drive out illness 93 58 Maggot clinic 94 59 Just a flea bite? 95 60 Mosquitoes - the flying foe 97 61 To ease the rheumatism 98 62 Of Gods, spirits and monsters 100 63 The mystery of mermaids 102 64 Phoenix rising 104 65 Hideous winged monsters 105 66 The elusive sea serpents 107 67 Norway's own Kraken 109 68 The monster of the loch 111 69 Follow the footprints 113 70 Tales of the thunderbird 114 71 Curses of the 'were' creatures 115 72 Tales of the vampire 117 73 The croak of the evil toad 118 74 The serpent god 120 75 The unicorn - one-horned wonder 121 76 'Here be dragons' 123 77 Enter the dragon 126 78 The ghastly griffin 127 79 Magical horses 129 80 The sacred bull giant 130 81 The mighty wolf 131 82 Beware the boggart and bug-a-boo 132 83 Mystic water horses 134 84 The charming sirens 135