In Need of a Good Home Trivia Quiz

Answer: One which is poisonous

The Catoblepas, as mentioned, is the size of a bull, and possesses the horns to match. It also has a scaly back and tufted tail.

The poisonous plants consumed by the Catoblepas provides the bull-like creature with two defensive weapons - poisonous breath and a poisonous gaze. The poisonous gaze of the Catoblepas is seldom used, as its shaggy head is so heavy that it is rarely lifted. The breath, however, is potent and deadly, and must be avoided at all costs!

When grooming the Catoblepas, which is often required, approach with caution, so as to not aggravate the beast, as its breath can cause many problems - anything from causing you to lose your voice, to killing you instantly.

Answer: Ants

The double-headed Amphisbaena has the feet and wings of a chicken. However, you won't have to build a cage to contain the Amphisbaena, as these wings are not used for flight. Instead, the Amphisbaena's heads lock jaws and form a loop so that it can roll about (something to bear in mind during walkies).

There are many superstitions surrounding this mythical creature, such as eating the Amphisbaena's meat, which is said to help a person attract a lover. Also, if a pregnant woman wears the serpent around her neck, she will have a healthy pregnancy. Finally, the skin of the Amphisbaena is said to cure rheumatism.

Answer: A black dog

There have been many sightings of large black dogs (some "as big as calves") around England, mostly at night and mostly in locations associated with superstition (such as churchyards).

The defining characteristic of these beasts is perhaps their large, red, glowing eyes. Whilst some stories, such as that of a massacre in a church in 1577, tell us of a dog that attacks and kills people, some, such as the story of the "Barghest beast" in Yorkshire, tell us of how people who look into the red eyes of the dog will inevitably die shortly after.

Answer: "Goat-sucker"

If you want a nice, cute and cuddly pet, do not choose the Chupacabra.

First described after a sighting in 1990 in Puerto Rico, the Chupacabra is said to possess leathery skin, sharp spines along its back, and sharp teeth and claws. Later sightings added to this monstrous description, giving the Chupacabra red, glowing eyes, a forked tongue, foul stench, and strong legs, allowing it to jump long distances.

Answer: The heat of its dung sets fire to anything it touches

The Bonnacon is said to roam the deserts of Asia, as told to us by Pliny the Elder.

The dung of this creature is the main talking point. As well as being so hot that it sets fire to whatever it touches, the stench is unbearable and the trails it produces can be hundreds of metres long!

Like the Catoblepas, the Bonnacon is said to resemble a bull, but its horns point inwards, thus justifying the creature's need for another defence - its dung.

Answer: A squirrel

You would need to provide a large enough tree for Ratatosk to live in so as to match his previous home, which was the largest tree in existence - the World Tree, Yggdrasil. The stories of Ratatosk come from Norse mythology, which says that the squirrel would run up and down the tree, carrying malevolent words from Nidhogg the dragon to the eagle perched on top.

If you would like to find out more about Norse mythology, please take the series of quizzes I have authored on the topic.

Answer: A Kappa

Its name meaning "river child", a Kappa incorporates the appearance of several real animals, such as the toad, the tortoise, the monkey and the duck.

Although it is not recommended that you keep a Kappa in your back garden if you have children, there is one way to get round this - you must write the names of your children on cucumbers and throw them into the pond for the Kappa to eat. This would work, as cucumbers are the only food a Kappa likes more than children.

Answer: The Cockatrice

The Cockatrice is a variation on the more famous mythical monster, the Basilisk, which is described as being venomous, and capable of killing whatever it looks at. As time progressed, the Basilisk became more and more deadly, and it grew and grew in size.

The Cockatrice, which was said to possess many of the Basilisk's qualities, was first called a Basilcock by Chaucer in his "Canterbury Tales". The Cockatrice was also said by some sources to have the face of a human and the body of a rooster.

Answer: In the soil

Mistaken travellers, upon seeing cotton plants, claimed that the buds of the plant were lambs. This misconception came from the similar appearance of cotton to wool.

As the Barometz grows, it falls from the plant, the stalk of which is seen here as some sort of umbilical cord. The mythical creature then eats the surrounding plants until it is large enough to leave the area.

The meat of a Barometz was said to be more similar in taste and texture to crab than it was to lamb.

Answer: Trick you

Br'er Rabbit is known as a trickster and, although made popular by the stories of Joel Chandler Harris, actually has his roots in old African folklore.

The stories became well-known in the southern states of America and the character of Br'er Rabbit was seen as an ally against white oppressors. The victories of Br'er Rabbit over his foes (for example Br'er Wolf) gave black slaves in the southern states a sense of empowerment, as well as providing them with some laughter.

The word Br'er is a contraction of "brother" - an amiable term used to describe the trickster.