Mankind has always created animals out of their
fears, hopes and dreams. Some are legendary, like
the Unicorn. Others, like the Werewolf, bring on
images of terror and fear. Still others are not so
well known, the Manticore falls into this group.
However, here in the back hills of Pennsylvania,
we have an entire Bestiary of these animals that,
while known locally, are seldom heard of outside
our region. It is the history and lore of these
animals that I bring to you and your assemblage.
Just what kind of animals am I talking about?
Well, let's see ....
There's the Hoop Snake, the forth venomous snake
in Pennsylvania, although it has a much larger
range. If you want, I can tell you about what it
looks like, where it lives, how it hunts, and
about the time my Great-Grandfather had a run-in
with one.
Then there's the Hide Behind. This seldom seen
creature was known by the Iroquois Nation when
they lived in the Allegheny Valley and that
knowledge has been passed on to us.
Let's not forget the many animals that live on the
sides of the many hills and mountains throughout
Pennsylvania; the Sidehill Gouger, the Sidehill
Mootie, Hill Cows, and the rest.
Oh, the animals in our Bestiary are many and
varied. They walk, crawl, swim and fly. Some of
them are members of more common species, but they
stand out for what they have done or can do.
Several of my Uncle's Coon Dogs come to mind. He
never seemed to have a Coon Dog that was not
special in some way or the other.
I'll tell you Tales of all of these animals and
more in the course of my show on Animals that
never were but should have been.
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