Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Read Online Free Page B

obtained from the Department for the
Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures on completion of a simple test to prove that the applicant wizard is capable of controlling the Crup in Muggle-inhabited areas. Crup owners are legally
obliged to remove the Crup’s tail with a painless Severing Charm while the Crup is six to eight weeks old, lest Muggles notice it.
    D EMIGUISE
    M.O.M. Classification: XXXX
    The Demiguise is found in the Far East, though only with great difficulty, for this beast is able to make itself invisible when threatened, and can be seen only by wizards
skilled in its capture.
    The Demiguise is a peaceful herbivorous beast, something like a graceful ape in appearance, with large, black, doleful eyes more often than not hidden by its hair. The whole body is covered with
long, fine, silky, silvery hair. Demiguise pelts are highly valued as the hair may be spun into Invisibility Cloaks.
    D IRICAWL
    M.O.M. Classification: XX
    The Diricawl originated in Mauritius. A plump-bodied, fluffy-feathered, flightless bird, the Diricawl is remarkable for its method of escaping danger. It can vanish in a puff of
feathers and reappear elsewhere (the phoenix shares this ability; see below).
    Interestingly, Muggles were once fully aware of the existence of the Diricawl, though they knew it by the name of “dodo.” Unaware that the Diricawl could vanish at will, Muggles
believe they have hunted the species to extinction. As this seems to have raised Muggle awareness of the dangers of slaying their fellow creatures indiscriminately, the International Confederation
of Wizards has never deemed it appropriate that the Muggles should be made aware of the continued existence of the Diricawl.
    D OXY (sometimes known as Biting Fairy)
    M.O.M. Classification: XXX

    The Doxy is often mistaken for a fairy (see above) though it is a quite separate species. Like the fairy, it has a minute human form, though in the Doxy’s case this is
covered in thick black hair and has an extra pair of arms and legs. The Doxy’s wings are thick, curved, and shiny, much like a beetle’s. Doxies are found throughout northern Europe and
America, preferring cold climates. They lay up to five hundred eggs at a time and bury them. The eggs hatch in two to three weeks.

    Doxies have double rows of sharp, venomous teeth. An antidote should be taken if bitten.
    D RAGON
    M.O.M. Classification: XXXXX
    Probably the most famous of all magical beasts, dragons are among the most difficult to hide. The female is generally larger and more aggressive than the male, though neither
should be approached by any but highly skilled and trained wizards. Dragon hide, blood, heart, liver, and horn all have highly magical properties, but dragon eggs are defined as Class A
Non-Tradeable Goods.
    There are ten breeds of dragon, though these have been known to interbreed on occasion, producing rare hybrids. Pure-bred dragons are as follows:
    A NTIPODEAN O PALEYE
    The Opaleye is a native of New Zealand, though it has been known to migrate to Australia when territory becomes scarce in its native land. Unusually for a dragon, it dwells in
valleys rather than mountains. It is of medium size (between two and three tonnes). Perhaps the most beautiful type of dragon, it has iridescent, pearly scales and glittering, multi-coloured,
pupil-less eyes, hence its name. This dragon produces a very vivid scarlet flame, though by dragon standards it is not particularly aggressive and will rarely kill unless hungry. Its favourite food
is sheep, though it has been known to attack larger prey. A spate of kangaroo killings in the late 1970s were attributed to a male Opaleye ousted from his homeland by a dominant female. Opaleye
eggs are pale grey and may be mistaken for fossils by unwary Muggles.
    C HINESE F IREBALL
    (sometimes known as Liondragon)
    The only Oriental dragon has a particularly striking appearance. Scarlet and smooth-scaled, it has a fringe of golden spikes around its