M.O.M. Classification: XXXX
The troll is a fearsome creature up to twelve feet tall and weighing over a tonne. Notable for its equally prodigious strength and stupidity, the troll is often violent and unpredictable. Trolls originated in Scandinavia but these days they may be found in Britain, Ireland, and other areas of northern Europe.
Trolls generally converse in grunts that appear to constitute a crude language, though some have been known to understand and even to speak a few simple human words. The more intelligent of the species have been trained as guardians.
There are three types of troll: mountain, forest, and river. The mountain troll is the largest and most vicious. It is bald, with a pale-grey skin. The forest troll has a pale-green skin and some specimens have hair, which is green or brown, thin, and straggly. The river troll has short horns and may be hairy. It has a purplish skin, and is often found lurking beneath bridges. Trolls eat raw flesh and are not fussy in their prey, which ranges from wild animals to humans.
UNICORN
M.O.M. Classification: XXXX14
The unicorn is a beautiful beast found throughout the forests of northern Europe. It is a pure white, horned horse when fully grown, though the foals are initially golden, and turn silver before achieving maturity. The unicorn’s horn, blood, and hair all have highly magical properties.15 It generally avoids human contact, is more likely to allow a witch to approach it than a wizard, and is so fleet of foot that it is very difficult to capture.
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14 See footnote on centaur classification.
15 The unicorn, like the fairy, has received an excellent Muggle press – in this case justified.
WEREWOLF
M.O.M. Classification: XXXXX16
The werewolf is found worldwide, though it is believed to have originated in northern Europe. Humans turn into werewolves only when bitten. There is no known cure, though recent developments in potion-making have to a great extent alleviated the worst symptoms. Once a month, at the full moon, the otherwise sane and normal wizard or Muggle afflicted transforms into a murderous beast. Almost uniquely among fantastic creatures, the werewolf actively seeks humans in preference to any other kind of prey.
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16 This classification refers, of course, to the werewolf in its transformed state. When there is no full moon, the werewolf is as harmless as any other human. For a heartrending account of one wizard’s battle with lycanthropy, see the classic Hairy Snout, Human Heart by an anonymous author (Whizz Hard Books, 1975).
WINGED HORSE
M.O.M. Classification: XX–XXXX
Winged horses exist worldwide. There are many different breeds, including the Abraxan (immensely powerful giant palominos), the Aethonan (chestnut, popular in Britain and Ireland), the Granian (grey and particularly fast) and the rare Thestral (black, possessed of the power of invisibility, and considered unlucky by many wizards). As with the Hippogriff, the owner of a winged horse is required to perform a Disillusionment Charm upon it at regular intervals (see Introduction).
YETI(also known as Bigfoot, the Abominable Snowman)
M.O.M. Classification: XXXX
A native of Tibet, the yeti is believed to be related to the troll, though no one has yet got close enough to conduct the necessary tests. Up to fifteen feet in height, it is covered head to foot in purest white hair. The yeti devours anything that strays into its path, though it fears fire, and may be repulsed by skilled wizards.
As Dumbledore writes in his introduction, money raised from the sale of this very special book will go to the UK charity Comic Relief U. K. to help people living incredibly tough lives across the UK and in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Since 2001, the books that J. K. Rowling kindly wrote especially for Comic Relief U. K., Quidditch Through the Ages
and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, have raised nearly $30 million – a magic amount of money that is already hard at work changing lives.
One way in which this money helps is by giving a vital education to children who live in extreme poverty in some of the world’s poorest countries. Across the world, 61 million children do not have access to primary school education, but, for many, going to school is their only real hope of escaping from the grinding poverty they now face. With this money, Comic Relief U. K. in just one year has been able to help over 160,000 children receive a formal education and build a far brighter future for themselves.
In fact, by buying this very book, you could help to provide children with school books, materials and uniforms, as well as school fees.