Boobrie

The boobrie is a mythical water bird of Scottish Highlands folklore. It is said to be similar to a great northern diver, but with white markings and the ability to roar. The creature is the metamorphosed form of the each uisge^{[citation needed]} and haunts lochs and salt wells.

Very long heather was the natural resting place and shelter of the boobrie. According to the most authentic reports, the animal was endowed with the power of assuming at pleasure the forms of three different animals, viz., those of a most enormous and ferocious water-bird, of a water-horse or each-uisg, and of a water-bull or tarbh-uisg.

The boobrie as water-bird has wings that appear to have been given by nature more for the purpose of assisting him in swimming under water, than flying. He is larger than seventeen of the biggest eagles put together. His neck is two feet eleven inches long, and twenty-three inches in circumference, his bill is about seventeen inches long, black in colour, measuring round the root about eleven inches; for the first twelve inches the bill is straight, but after that assumes the shape of an eagle's and of proportionate strength. His legs are remarkably short for his size, black, and tremendously powerful. The feet are webbed till within five inches of the toes, which then terminate in immense claws of most destructive nature. The print of his foot on the mud at the end of the lake (as accurately measured by an authority) covers the space generally of the span of a large wide-spreading pair of red deer's horns. The sound he utters resembles that of a large bull in his most angry humours, but much superior in strength. The favourite food of the boobrie is the flesh of calves; failing them he feeds upon sheep or lambs, as suits him, or seizing his prey he carries it off to the largest neighbouring muir loch, swims out to the deepest part, where he dives, carrying his victim along with him, and there feeds, returning on shore at pleasure. He is particularly fond of otters, which he swallows in great numbers and with considerable avidity.