
Legend has it that a fantastically fast creature exists, somewhere, very well hidden.
It’s speed can take it all around the world, not exactly in the blink of an eye, but pretty quickly. It can also use its speed to reach the Moon, if needed. Apparently.
The creature?
The Hippogryphe.
Part horse, part Gryphon (more commonly referred to as a Griffin), it has the head of an eagle and the winged body of a horse. It has sharp claws on its front legs, and ‘normal’ hooves on its hind legs. When it runs, it runs similar to a horse in gallop, but with considerable less grace, but when in flight its grace becomes second to none, remarkable, considering its size and speed.

Fear has it that within the Hippogryphe exists an evil spirit, but this idea has possibly arisen due to the extremely loud shrieking noise the creature makes when it feels threatened. Similar to an eagle’s call, the sound is amplified by the Hippogryphe’s considerably larger head and syrinx (or the bird’s voice box).
The creature can be tamed, if found, but taming and training can be a long, laborious task. They are solitary creatures, but some have been known to gather in herds.
Incidentally, the word hippogriff, which is an alternative spelling for the name of the animal, was introduced into English in the beginning of the Seventeenth Century.
Nowadays, the Hippogryphe is more likely to be seen on a coat of arms rather than galloping across a field somewhere, or taking off into flight, but never say never. One day, you may just come across one somewhere.
If it chooses to let you see it, that is.
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