Hippogriff-The imaginary Pet of Knights

A legendary animal, half horse and half griffin. Its father was a griffin and its mother was a filly. It is often found in ancient Greek art and appeared largely in medieval legends. It is also a symbol of love. It has the head, wings and front legs of a gryphon, and the back and hind legs of a horse.

It is a large powerful creature that can move through the air more swiftly than lightning. It figured in several of the legends of Charlemagne as a mount for some of the knights. Such unions are incredibly rare, since the relationship between the two species is usually one of predator and pray.

Unlike griffins, hippogriffs could be tamed and used as aerial mounts, in which role they were immortalized in the Italian Renaissance poet Ariosto's famous saga, Orlando Furioso.

Griffins and horses were supposed to be mortal enemies. The Hippogriff symbolizes an impossible thing. There is an old expression in Medieval times "Jungentur jam grypes equis" which means "To cross griffons with horses", which meant about the same as the modern expression, "When pigs fly." The hippogriff was therefore a symbol of impossibility and love.

The hippogriff seemed easier to tame than a griffin. In the few medieval legends when this fantastic creature makes an appearance, it is usually the pet of either a knight or a sorcerer. It makes an excellent steed, being able to fly as fast as lightning.

A bird which has a barrel-like body

Penguin, common name for 17 species of flightless seabirds widely distributed in cooler waters and along coastlines in the Southern Hemisphere. Skilled swimmers, penguins have streamlined, barrel-like bodies that reduce drag in the water. Their wings, modified to form thin, stiff flippers, provide propulsion while swimming. Unlike the bones of other birds, penguin bones are solid, not hollow, which helps them remain submerged underwater. On land penguins have a waddling gait due to their short, thick legs set far back on the body. Penguins come ashore to breed, but they are, in fact, true marine animals, spending as much as 80 percent of their lives at sea.