Odd sources for things with possible HP importance

[Scott]

No: HPFGUIDX 7023

Ok, I know these don't sound exactly like good HP sources but on 
second thought they can't be more off than the Beecham (sp?) book...

I was looking through a Christmas catalogue the other day and saw a 
little factoid about elves which stated that at one time all (or 
most) magical creatures of the sort were called elves. Does that make 
sense? (I can no longer find the catalogue.) Anyway there was some 
discussion a while back that the House elves of HP seemed more like 
brownies, and under the above classification they technically could 
be. Right?

Also in another book, strangely enough one about the breeds of cats, 
I found a caption that read-

"During the Middle Ages, cats suffered terrible persecution at the 
hands of superstitious people who believed that witches could change 
themselves into cats and back again at will. So many cats were burned 
alive that the species was almost extinct in Europe in 1400.  These  
witches are depicted accompanied by a cat, a dog, a mouse and an owl- 
their 'familiars', or demons in the form of animals.

I thought that was interesting, esp. the last sentence...not sure how 
reliable either of these sources are though. Anyway it's something to 
chew over.

Scott

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"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in 
fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your 
mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the 
here and now?  Reality leaves a lot to the imagination." - John 
Lennon 

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