Argopelter

The Argopelter is a mythical fearsome critter said to inhabit hollow trees of the conifer woods from Maine to Oregon.[1] From this vantage point, the creature would await an unwary person and hurl wooden splinters and branches at the intruder.[1][2][3][4] Some have described the creature as being so quick that it has never been seen.[2] One reference describes the creature as having a "slender, wirely body, the villainous face of an ape, and arms like muscular whiplashes, with which it can snap off dead branches and hurl them through the air like shells from a six inch gun."[4] The argopelter subsists on woodpeckers, hoot owls,[4] high-holes,[3] and dozy (rotten) wood.[3] Its pups are born on February 29 and always arrive in odd numbers.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wyman, Walker D. Mythical Creatures of the USA and Canada. (River Falls, WI: Univ of Wisconsin Riverfalls Press,1978.)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cohen, Daniel. Monsters, Giants, and Little Men from Mars: An Unnatural History of the Americas. (New York: Doubleday, 1975)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tryon, Henry Harrington. Fearsome Critters. (Cornwall, NY: Idlewild Press, 1939)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cox, William T. with Latin Classifications by George B. Sudworth. Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods. (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler Inc., 1910

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