Tsuchinoko

Cryptid of the Day: Ryukyu Kingfisher

Description: The Ryukyu Kingfisher, a 9 ½ inch bird, lived in Japan’s Miyako Island, but only one specimen was ever collected back in 1887. It’s believed that the bird went extinct due to the introduction of rats to the island. However, some have reported seeing the bird and believe they are still alive. 

“Treading Softly” by CherishLoveArt.

Unicorns are the creatures of fairytales,  commonly horses with one horn atop their head. But a unicorn is technically any creature with just one horn growing out of their head. It is agreed that a two horned animal that has lost its horn is not a unicorn. 

The Rhinoceros, commonly referred to as a Rhino, is a real life unicorn. They are a creature with one horn growing out of their head in the midline of their body. Though some people wonder if the fabled unicorn of fiction actually exist outside of one’s imagination. 

There have been many sightings over the years, but nothing has come from them except the attention of scientists and cryptozologists. But many people say that such commotion and “hoopla” could not be for nothing and believe there may be some truth to those sightings. 

Hidebehinds are large dog-like creatures found in the stories of lumberjacks. Hidebehinds are described as large dog-like creatures with black, shaggy fur, long, sharp claws, and a tail. The Hidebehind gets its name due to the fact that it hides behind people and when they turn around the Hidebehind hides behind an object or runs behind the person so it isn’t seen then once it gets close enough the Hidebehind kills its victim and then eats them. Experts believe that the Hidebehinds could be black bears.

The English band Faustus created this beautiful song based around the legend of the Gurt Dog of Somerset. It was featured on their October 2016 album Death and Other Animals. The song highlights the protective nature of the Gurt Dog and tells a tale of a child that wandered at night only to be ushered home by a large, gentle canine friend. 

Soundly dream, Sweetly dream, Close your ears and pray. Gurt Dog howls, On the prowl, For children who’ve run away. 

A muzzle pushed into my palm, Velvet it was and warm. The hills were kind, the moor was small, I’d soon be safely home. 

He galloped me up to my door, I stretched to kiss his nose. Then climbed back into my fleece-lined bed, Dry down to my clothes.

Jackalopes are my favorite cryptid, so I decided to stitch one featuring the night sky!

Grim in a broken graveyard.

thylacine from the london zoo