COME AND JOIN THE FUN

Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals. The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine!

The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy C, scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

THE BEST UK FORTEAN EVENT OF THE YEAR - DON'T MISS IT

Numbers are limited and we would hate you to be disappointed.. SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED SO FAR: Richard Freeman: 20 Cryptids you have never heard of; Neil Arnold: Mystery Animals of Kent and LondonRichard Muirhead:The Flying Snake of Namibia; Richard Thorns: The search for the Pink Headed Duck; Silas Hawkins: Bedtime stories; Jon Downes and Richard Freeman: Intro to Cryptozoology; Nick Wadham: TBA; Carl Portman: TBA; Harriet Wadham: Book signing; Kevin Goodman: Is UFOlogy a new religion? Glen Vaudrey: Scottish sea monster carcasses; Book Launch: Scottish sea monster carcasses; Jan Bondeson: Greyfriars Bobby; CFZ Awards; Richard Freeman et al: Sumatra 2011; Paul Screeton: The Hexham Heads; Lars Thomas: Danish Cryptozoology; Ronan Coghlan: Sinbad the Sailor; Jon Downes: Keynote Speech

More attractions will be announced soon... Buy Your tickets in advance at the special discount price of £20. If you want to pay by cheque payable to `CFZ Trust` please send it to: The Centre for Fortean Zoology,Myrtle Cottage,9 Back Street,Woolfardisworthy,Bideford, North Devon, EX39 5QR

See you in August...
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Sunday, December 06, 2009

LINDSAY SELBY: Mermaids on the Isle of Man

There are quite a few tales of mermaids from the Isle of Man, but as it is surrounded by sea it is logical that stories about sea creatures would abound. Here is one from 1891:

'The Folk-Lore of the Isle of Man by A. W. Moore 1891

Waldron was surprised to find that the Manx actually believed in mermaids, and he gave several stories that they told him about them, as follows:--"During the time that Oliver Cromwell usurped the Government of England, few ships resorted to this Island, and that uninterruption and solitude of the sea gave the mermen and mermaids (who are enemies to any company but those of their own species) frequent opportunities of visiting the shore, where, in moonlight nights, they have been seen. to sit, combing their heads and playing with each other; but as soon as they perceived anybody coming near them, jumped into the water, and were out of sight immediately.


'Some people, who lived near the coast, having observed their behaviour, spread large nets made of small but very strong cords upon the ground, and watched at a convenient distance for their approach. The night they had laid this snare but one happened to come, who was no sooner sat down than those who held the strings of the net drew them with a sudden jerk, and enclosed their prize beyond all possibility of escaping. On opening the net, and examining their captive, by the largeness of her breasts and the beauty of her complexion, it was found to be a female. Nothing could be more lovely, more exactly formed in all parts above the waist, resembling a complete young woman, but below that all fish with fins and a huge spreading tail. She was carried to a house, and used very tenderly, nothing but liberty being denied. But though they set before her the best provision the place afforded, she would not be prevailed on to eat or drink, neither could they get a word from her, tho’ they knew these creatures were not without the gift of speech, having heard them talk to each other, when sitting regaling themselves on the seaside.'

They kept her in this manner three days, but perceiving she began to look very ill with fasting, and fearing some calamity would befall the Island if they should keep her till she died, they agreed to let her return to the element she liked best, and the third night set open their door, which, as soon as she beheld, she raised herself from the place where she was then lying, and glided, with incredible swiftness, on her tail to the seaside. They followed at a distance, and saw her plunge into the water, where she was met by a great number of her own species, one of whom asked what she had observed among the people of the earth,--"Nothing very wonderful," answered she, "but that they are so very ignorant as to throw away the water they have boiled eggs in."

Source where you can read it online for free:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fim/fim07.htm

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