Flying Snake - No 01 - 2011 04

Magazine Overview

Title: Flying Snake
Subtitle: A Journal of Cryptozoology, Folklore and Forteana
Issue: Volume 1, Issue 1
Date: April 2011
Price: £3

This inaugural issue of Flying Snake presents a diverse collection of articles focusing on cryptozoology, folklore, and fortean phenomena. The magazine aims to explore 'archive' accounts, particularly those predating 1950. The publisher, Richard Muirhead, introduces the journal and its focus, dedicating the issue to his mother, Sheila Muirhead.

Contents Overview

The issue features a wide array of topics, including:

• Dr. Devo's Diary: An introduction from the publisher, touching on the origins of the 'Dr Devo' persona and the magazine's focus on cryptozoology.
• The Curious Creature: An account of a peculiar hairless quadruped found in the mountains of New Mexico, described with goat-like horns and deer-like legs.
• Are There Unknown Species of Flying Lizards in Australia?: This article, co-authored by Mike Hardcastle and Richard Muirhead, investigates reports of flying lizards in Australia, drawing on historical accounts and personal notes, including sightings in the Wyong district.
• Apparitions in the Air, Cheshire, 1651: A reprint of a pamphlet detailing a strange apparition witnessed in Cheshire, involving celestial phenomena, armed figures, and bird-like creatures.
• Ezekiel's Wheels: An exploration of the biblical description of Ezekiel's vision, clarifying that it is not an UFO sighting.
• Flying Snakes Part 1: An article by Dale Drinnon.
• The Giant Centipedes of Hong Kong: Co-authored by Mike Hardcastle and Richard Muirhead.
• The South Shields Devil Crabs: An article by Mike Hallowell.
• The Pink-Tusked Elephants of Tang Dynasty China: An article by Richard Muirhead.
• The Israeli Mermaid: An article by Zvi Ron.
• A Wildcat from Shaftesbury, Dorset: An article by Andy Scott.
• A Spotted Cat from a 15th Century Hunting Manual: An article by Marco Masseti.
• Zebro - an Equine Mystery from Iberia: An article by Karl Shuker.
• The Zebra-Drawn Carriage: An article by Richard Muirhead.
• Two Notes on the Nandi Bear: An article by Richard Muirhead.
• Notes and Queries, Book Reviews, Letters: Regular sections for reader contributions and reviews.

Key Articles and Features

The Curious Creature (New Mexico)

This article, transcribed from an old newspaper, details the capture of a unique quadruped in New Mexico. Described as approximately sixteen inches high and twenty-four inches long, it was hairless with a purplish-black hide, fawn-colored belly, and yellow lower legs. It possessed cleft hoofs and a head resembling a hairless Mexican dog with small, backward-curving horns. The creature died shortly after capture, and its mounted specimen was put on exhibition. The article notes the difficulty in classifying it, suggesting it might be a freak of nature, a hybrid, or an unknown species.

Flying Lizards in Australia

This extensive section, co-authored by Mike Hardcastle and Richard Muirhead, investigates reports of flying lizards in Australia. It begins by describing *Draco volans*, the gliding lizard found in Indonesia and Malaysia. The article then presents handwritten notes from Richard Hardcastle detailing a sighting in the Wyong district of New South Wales in the late 1940s, where a creature about 10 inches long with skin flaps was reportedly killed. Further accounts from the 1950s describe similar creatures gliding between trees. The article also references a 1927 newspaper report about a half-bird, half-reptile creature from the Murray River country and a 1952 sighting by R. Hardcastle. It also includes a report from the Pennsylvania Bristol Bucks County Gazette (1895) about flying dragons in Queensland and the Torres Strait, and a 1935 report from The Queenslander about a flying serpent. The article further explores the 'Volpaning Frilled Lizard' (*Chlamydosaurus kingii*), with observations suggesting its frill might aid in gliding. The authors conclude that while evidence points to the existence of Australian 'flying lizards', the subject remains largely unobserved by zoologists.

Apparitions in the Air, Cheshire, 1651

This section reprints a historical pamphlet detailing a series of strange visions witnessed in Cheshire in 1651. The account, written as a letter from William Radmore to his brother, describes a dark body over the sun, followed by numerous smaller parts. The scene then transforms into an imagined battle with armed hands, gauntlets, swords, horses, and cannons. Subsequently, bird-like creatures with owl-like faces, described as bluish-red or sanguine, appeared and vanished. The account emphasizes the terrifying and awe-inspiring nature of these phenomena.

Publisher Information and Policies

Flying Snake Press is located in Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK. Subscriptions are priced at £3 per issue or £9 per annum. Payment can be made via PayPal on their website. Cheques and postal orders from within the UK should be made payable to Richard Muirhead. The publisher welcomes contributions and offers to reproduce articles, but notes that author opinions do not necessarily reflect his own. The magazine is deliberately oriented towards 'archive' cryptozoology, focusing on material pre-1950.

Credits

The magazine's title logo is by William Frederiksen. The front cover image of a flying snake is by Janet Bord and the Fortean Picture Library, and the flying lizard illustration is by Mike Hardcastle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are cryptozoology, folklore, and forteana, with a strong emphasis on historical accounts and 'archive' material. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, presented through a lens of historical research and a desire to uncover forgotten or overlooked cases. The publisher's interest in pre-1950 cryptozoology is a defining characteristic of the journal's approach.

This issue of Cryptozoology Online, dated January 23rd, 2011, is titled "Flying Snakes Part 1" and is authored by Dale Drinnon. It explores various cryptids and unexplained phenomena, drawing from folklore, historical accounts, and online discussions.

Flying Serpents (Gwibers/Wyverns)

The first section, "Flying Snakes Part 1," by Dale Drinnon, delves into the folklore of "Gwibers" in Wales. These creatures are described as winged serpents or dragons. The article references Marie Trevelyn's "Folklore and Folkstories of Wales" (1909), which recounts descriptions of winged serpents around Penllyne Castle, Glamorgan. These serpents were said to be beautiful, covered in jewel-like scales, with crests sparkling like a rainbow, and eyes like a peacock's tail. An aged inhabitant described them as gliding swiftly to their hiding places and flying over people, their wings bright and eyes like a peacock's tail. The story was attributed to the fact that serpents were common in farmyards and coverts.

Oll Lewis's information on cryptozoology is mentioned, noting his blog post about Welsh cryptids, specifically a dragonet of Glamorgan. The article explains that "Gwiber" means "viper" and is related to the French "voivre" and the term "wyvern." Wyverns are described as two-legged, winged dragons common in Western Europe, with potential counterparts in Eastern Europe like "aitavars." The Welsh folklore descriptions of feathered serpents are compared to peacocks and domestic fowl, suggesting they might be pheasants.

The article further explores the possibility that the anhinga, with its long neck, could be mistaken for a flying snake. It also discusses the cockatrice, described as a fowl with a long lizard-like tail, often possessing venomous breath, bites, or claws. The author posits that the "flying serpent" reports might be related to anhingas, which are also noted for their potent venom.

The Welsh flying snakes are described as aggressive, capable of killing poultry and attacking travelers, and are said to be provoked by the sight of a red cloth. Reports commonly place their length between six and nine feet. The Reeve's pheasant, native to China, is presented as a potential real-world analogue, with its long tail (up to eight feet) and aggressive nature, particularly the males towards humans and other pheasant types. The article speculates that the combination of a long neck and tail on such a bird could account for the descriptions.

Giant Centipedes of Hong Kong

The second major section, "The Giant Centipedes of Hong Kong," by Richard Muirhead and Mike Hardcastle, investigates reports of unusually large centipedes in the region. According to scientific orthodoxy, there are four species of centipede in Hong Kong: *Thereupoda clunifera*, *Scolopendra morsitans*, *Scolopendra multidens*, and *S. dehanni*. The essay focuses on *S. multidens*, known as the "Urban Giant Centipede," which measures 10-13cm in body length and has a body composed of segments, with each leg tipped with a sharp spine and poison fangs under the head. The bite is considered very painful and capable of killing small mice, with American cockroaches being its likely prey.

The article discusses the potential confusion regarding the species *Scutigera*, with naturalist Geoffrey Herklots noting its presence in "The Hong Kong Countryside" while Max Blake of the Centre for Fortean Zoology questions its current existence in Hong Kong. Herklots described *Scutigera* as the "shield-bearer," known for its speed and long legs, feared by the Chinese for its supposedly fatal bite, which the article refutes as untrue.

Historical newspaper archives reveal intriguing reports. A Hong Kong Telegraph article from June 30th, 1924, details the capture of a "2-Foot Long Centipede" in Kowloon, identified as *S. gigas*. Another similar report from The China Mail on March 19th, 1948, also mentions a two-foot centipede found in Kowloon. The article notes that the company Messrs A.S. Watson & Co, mentioned in the 1924 report, still exists.

Further online sources mention giant centipedes on Cheung Chau, described as "ultimate creepy-crawlies" that look spooky, grow to 13cm, run fast, and possess venom. A Facebook contact described a centipede on The Peak as being approximately 20cm, but questioned reports of 60cm specimens.

The article also touches upon *Scolopendra subspinipes*, the "Vietnamese centipede," and *S. dehanni*, distinguished by having three spines on its last pair of legs compared to the seven on *S. multidens*. The latter is described as a forest litter species.

Eyewitness accounts from Hong Kong residents, including those who lived on The Peak, mention centipedes sometimes red in color, growing up to 30cm (1ft), with claims of specimens reaching 60cm (2ft).

Swallowed a Live Centipede

A brief section recounts an unusual story from The Hong Kong Daily Press, July 1st, 1924, about a Chinese woman in Szechuan who was prescribed a live centipede by a doctor as an "anti-toxin" for a poisonous ailment. The treatment made her extremely ill, causing her face and lips to swell, and she was unable to eat for five days. The article frames this as an example of people living in a world belonging to a distant past.

The South Shields Devil Crabs

Authored by Mike Hallowell, this section explores the legend of "South Shields Devil Crabs." The author was intrigued by an entry in Ronan Coghlan's "A Dictionary of Cryptozoology" about a potential unrecognized species of crab living off the coast of South Shields. Evelyn Waugh-Almond, a late archaeologist, mentioned "crabs living unknown to man" near Velvet Beds or Camel Island. These crabs were described as looking like velvet crabs but being taxonomically different, possessing a "nasty disposition" and distinctive red eyes, leading to the monikers "Devils Crabs" and "Witches Crabs."

One correspondent reported that these crabs can grow to a width of 14 inches, significantly larger than average velvet crabs, with Trevor Wilkinson suggesting they can grow to "enormous size."

The Pink-Tusked Elephants of Tang Dynasty China

Richard Muirhead investigates reports of black elephants with pink tusks in Tang Dynasty China (618-907 AD). The research stems from online discussions and the book "The Vermilion Bird" by Edward Schafer, which mentions a race of black elephants in Hsün and Lei, corresponding to the Leizhou Peninsula and southeastern Guangxi Province. These were formally dubbed *Elephas maximus rubridens* by zoologist Dr. P.E.P. Deraniyagala, based on an antique Chinese bronze statuette. Schafer also noted herds of wild elephants in Honan and Hupeh in the fifth century and their presence in Nam-Viet during T'ang times. A T'ang source specifically mentions a race of black elephants with small pink tusks in Hsin and Lei.

The article discusses the use of ivory from these elephants, with tusks sent to artisans for conversion into various items. The "naturally pink ivory" was highly favored. Berthold Laufer's "Ivory in China" is cited, detailing the import of ivory into China, with Arab imports described as straight, white, and weighing fifty to a hundred pounds, while those from Tonking and Camboja were smaller and had a reddish tint.

John Moore is mentioned for his work on *Elephas rubridens*, citing Deraniyagala's research. The article also references Shoshani and Tassy's "The Proboscidea," which lists *Elephas maximus rubridens* as a synonym of *E. maximus*.

An email from 'Blackhawk' questions the validity of Deraniyagala's identification under zoological nomenclature rules. Another statement from the Civilization Fanatics Forum suggests that only two main elephant species exist today, but four were known during the Nabatean period, with *Elephas maximus rubridens* existing in China as far north as Anyang.

Dale Drinnon offers his opinion that reported colorations might be artistic conventions and that unusual colors are dubious indicators for new species, suggesting that many cryptid variations on the Asiatic elephant are likely rare variations of a single species.

The Israeli Mermaid

Authored by Zvi Ron, this section details the reports of a mermaid sighted on the beach of Kiryat Yam, Israel, starting in August 2009. Town council spokesman Natti Zilberman is a key figure, quoted as saying many people independently reported seeing a "half girl - half fish" creature that jumps like a dolphin and disappears. Shlomo Cohen, a retired soldier, and his friends reported seeing a woman laying on the sand who then jumped into the water, revealing a tail.

Zilberman offered a million-dollar reward for proof of the mermaid's existence, believing that tourism would increase significantly, thus generating more revenue for the town. While initially perceived as a publicity stunt to boost the economy of the "unemployment-cursed and crime-ridden" town, the reports did attract tourists. A new boardwalk with a mermaid statue was constructed, and there were reports of attempts to sell "Mermaid Beach" to investors.

A documentary crew from NBC filmed on the beach, capturing footage of a figure dipping underwater, though the Center for Coastal Ocean Research in Los Angeles could not unequivocally determine it was a mermaid.

The mermaid reports were co-opted for political and ideological purposes. PETA announced a billboard campaign encouraging vegetarianism. An organization calling itself the Mermaid Medical Association threatened legal action against the town for offering the reward, claiming it damaged the "legendary mermaid legacy." This lawsuit was later revealed to be a hoax, with the organization being a health clinic. The entire story was used to demonstrate a lack of proper investigation in media reporting.

The article concludes by questioning the reality of the mermaid but acknowledging that for the residents of Kiryat Yam, the generated tourism, investment, and interest are very real.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Cryptozoology Online consistently explores the intersection of folklore, eyewitness accounts, and scientific inquiry into phenomena that lie outside conventional understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation, presenting various accounts and theories without necessarily endorsing them as fact, while also critically examining the evidence and potential motivations behind reports (e.g., publicity stunts, hoaxes).

The recurring themes include the interpretation of ancient myths and legends (flying serpents, elephants) through modern cryptozoological lenses, the documentation of unusual biological reports (giant centipedes, mermaids), and the role of media and online communities in disseminating and discussing these phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on drawing from diverse sources, from historical texts and folklore collections to contemporary online forums and newspaper archives.

This issue of "Flying Snake" magazine, published in English, covers a diverse range of unusual animal reports and historical mysteries. The content spans from contemporary sightings to medieval manuscripts and historical zoological debates.

Articles and Features

Kiryat Yam Mermaids

The issue begins with a series of references to news reports from August and September 2009 concerning alleged mermaid sightings in Kiryat Yam, Israel. Articles from the Jerusalem Post, Arutz Sheva News, and Haaretz newspaper discuss how these sightings potentially impacted the town's identity and tourism prospects. Some reports suggest the town was promoting itself as a 'Mermaid Beach', while others mention legal actions related to the 'mermaid' phenomenon.

A Wildcat from Shaftesbury, Dorset

Written by Andy Scott, this article recounts a personal sighting of a large wild cat in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in May 2010. Scott describes a creature with dark tabby markings, approximately three feet long, with a thick tail, observed for about two minutes. He contrasts it with domestic or feral cats, noting its larger size and distinct movement. The article also mentions related reports of wildcat discoveries in Swindon and Salisbury.

A Spotted Cat from a 15th Century Hunting Manual

Authored by Marco Masseti, this piece examines an illustration from 'The Master of Game,' a 15th-century hunting manual translated by Edward of Norwich. The image depicts a spotted cat with a long tail, which Masseti argues does not represent any known European or African wild cat species. He discusses its characteristics in relation to known felids like the small-spotted cat and marbled cat, ultimately suggesting the illustration is a non-veristic artistic representation, possibly an 'idea' of a leopard cat, or a species unknown to the artist.

Zebro - an Equine Mystery from Iberia

Karl Shuker's article investigates the 'zebro,' a mysterious, now-vanished equine creature reported in medieval Spanish hunting treatises. Described as resembling a mare with specific markings, or a loud, strong, and fast donkey-like animal, the zebro has been linked by archaeologists Carlos Nores and Corina von Lettow-Vorbeck Liesau to the extinct European wild ass, *Equus hydruntinus*. The article notes that fossil remains of *E. hydruntinus* have been found across Eurasia, and its potential survival in southern Spain until the 16th century is considered the Iberian Peninsula's last megafaunal extinction. The term 'zebro' is also suggested as a possible origin for the word 'zebra.'

A Zebra-Drawn Carriage

Richard Muirhead's short piece, accompanied by an image, describes a zebra-drawn carriage belonging to the Mazawattee Tea Company. The article, referencing Wikipedia, highlights the company's history as a prominent and well-advertised tea firm in England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by the Densham family.

Two Notes on the Nandi Bear

Richard Muirhead presents two newspaper accounts concerning the Nandi Bear, a cryptid from East Africa. The first, from 1927, describes it as a strange beast that terrorized locals, killed livestock and humans, and possessed unusual features like six digits, leading to speculation it might be a giant hyena. The second account from 1936 details a white settler, Jesse R. Coope, shooting a 'lynx-like' creature in Kenya's Mau Forest, believed by locals to be a Nandi Bear. The article includes correspondence with the Natural History Museum in London, which could not find records of the specimen.

Flying Snake of Namibia

In the 'Notes & Queries' section, Richard Freeman inquires about sightings of the 'Flying Snake of Namibia.' Richard Muirhead replies with a reference to an essay in the South West Africa Annual of 1980 by L.O. Honeyborne, detailing a police sergeant's account of a flying snake sighting in Namibia in 1942.

'The Inns of Salisbury' Manuscript

Richard Muirhead also queries a manuscript mentioning an animal described as a 'stupendous Hyena' in Salisbury in 1767, weighing over 30 cwt and standing 20 hands high. Clinton Keeling suggests it might have been a camel, noting that camels were known in England at the time, though perhaps not commonly seen by the general populace.

HERE BE WALLABIES

A letter from David Green, originally published in BBC Wildlife Magazine, recalls seeing pure white wallabies in Derbyshire before World War II, prompting Richard Muirhead to seek further information on these and other cryptids in Cuba.

Book Reviews

In the Beginning was the End by Oscar Kiss Maerth: This review discusses Maerth's book, described as an eccentric and subversive work presenting a new theory of evolution based on cannibalism among primeval apes. The reviewer finds the book 'daft' and 'dangerous' but acknowledges its attempt to challenge evolutionary thinking and religious dogma.

Moa Sightings by Bruce Spittle: Richard Muirhead highly recommends this three-volume work, which thoroughly researches evidence for the survival of the moa in New Zealand beyond the accepted extinction dates. The volumes detail various sighting claims and present a 'staggered survival model.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, the mysterious, and the historically obscure in the animal kingdom. It features a blend of eyewitness accounts, historical research, and critical analysis of evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into fortean phenomena, encouraging reader participation and the sharing of information on cryptids and unexplained animal events. The magazine values detailed research and historical documentation, as evidenced by its extensive reference lists and book reviews.

Title: Flying Snake
Issue: 1
Date: 2011
Cover Price: 25p

Content Summary

This issue of "Flying Snake" magazine, dated 2011, presents a diverse collection of correspondence and articles primarily focused on zoology, herpetology, and cryptozoology, with a particular emphasis on accounts from Hong Kong and other global locations.

Hong Kong Herpetology and Zoology

The issue opens with a letter from Dr. Anthony Bogadek, dated March 2, 1997, addressed to a 'Dr (sic!) Muirhead'. Bogadek clarifies that while he cannot answer questions about unknown species in Hong Kong, he notes recent discoveries of species not new to science but new to Hong Kong, such as *Amphiesma boulengari* and *Rhabdophis nuchalis*. He also mentions local reptile species new to science: *Dibamus bogadeki* (a fossorial lizard) and *Hemiphyllodactylus sp.* (a new gecko species). Bogadek also references historical reports of snakes in Hong Kong, including *Cylindrophis ruffus*, *Chrysopelea ornate*, *Dendrelaphis pictus*, and *Ahaetulla prasina*, questioning whether they are native or introduced.

Another section includes a letter from Ken Livingstone, dated April 22, 1996, clarifying that 'eft' and 'evvet' are names for newts, not crocodiles. A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a letter from Ho Shai Lai, dated April 18, 1996, written in honor of his late father, Stuart W. Muirhead. Ho Shai Lai recounts memories from Hong Kong, including a large tortoise with a 10-inch shell that was moved to the Tung Lin Kwok Yuen temple, poisonous cobras, bamboo snakes, and pythons at Mount Kellett. He also mentions 'fruit foxes' that raided gardens and notes that his father provided estate management advice.

Global Wildlife and Cryptozoology

Correspondent Clinton Keeling, in a letter dated January 16, 1998, discusses melanism in animals, citing examples like melanistic squirrels, black rhinoceroses in Kenya, black wild rabbits in Anglesey, and water voles in Norfolk. He suggests that soil acidity might correlate with darker animal coloration.

A missionary in the Republic of Congo, writing in June 1995, shares beliefs about an unknown, possibly extinct, animal in the local inundated forests, with a colleague, Gene Thomas, strongly believing in its existence. The missionary mentions the Mokele Mbembe expeditions and the inconclusive testimony of local villagers, highlighting the difficulty in separating scientific fact from legend.

Anomalous Animal Sightings and Events

The magazine features an account of an orange-coloured badger found dead by the side of the road in Matlock, Derbyshire, UK, in 2005. A photograph of this badger, taken at the One World Festival in New Mills, Derbyshire, on July 3, 2010, is included.

Additionally, there is a reference to a 'spotted cat' illustration from a fifteenth-century book, 'The Master of Game', located in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Event Advertisement

The issue includes an advertisement for 'Weird Weekend 2011', a three-day event in Woolfardisworthy, North Devon, UK, from August 13th-15th, 2010. The event promises 'high strangeness' with speakers, exotic insects, kids' activities, films, music, and workshops.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the fringes of zoological knowledge, featuring personal accounts, historical records, and reports of unusual animal phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting diverse perspectives and anecdotal evidence without necessarily endorsing specific claims, encouraging readers to engage with the presented information critically. The inclusion of letters from various individuals suggests a community-driven approach to sharing information on natural history and unexplained occurrences.