Asrai: Small, delicate water faeries. Sometimes a fisherman might find one with his catch, and tales are told of fishermen who chose to take the small faerie with them, despite it’s cries to be set free. One bound an asrai in the bottom of his boat, but when it touched him the cold of it’s hands marked him for life. By the time he reached the shore the asrai had vanished, leaving only a puddle of water behind.

Banshee: Also bean si. Irish banshees are attached to old families and will keen before the death of a family member. If several join their voices then someone very great can be expected to die. A banshee has long hair and a gray cloak, and her eyes are red from weeping. In Scotland the bean-nighe washes the grave clothes of those about to die, and is said to be the ghost of a woman who died prematurely.

Boggarts: Mischievous brownies, often those who have been wronged by humans. They enjoy playing tricks on humans and often cause a great deal of trouble. A farmer and his family once prepared to leave their home because they had been so tormented by a boggart. Upon learning that the boggart intended to move with them they chose to stay, feeling that it was better to suffer it’s tricks in their own home than in a new one. Eventually it grew tired of it’s mischeif about that farm and moved on.

Brownies: Known also as the Welsh Bwca, and the Highland Bodach, one of the most well known of the faerie folk. A brownie is generally a small man no more than a yard high, dressed in brown clothes, who often come out at night to attend to work that is left unfinished. They can become quite devoted to their household, perfoming a variety of chores about the farm and providing good counsel if needed. Their devotion to their master might also make them unpopular with the servants, whom they might punish for wrongdoing. In return for their help they expect only a bowl of cream and a cake to be left for them. Any offer of reward or clothing will drive the brownie away, as a 16th century brownie song points out: “What have we here, Hempen Hampen! Here will I never more tread nor stampen.” Brownies who have had repeated bad luck with humans often became boggarts.

Changelings: One of the most enduring habits of the faeries has been their desire for human children. Sometimes after stealing a child they would leave a stock of wood, given the likeness of the child with faerie glamour. The illusion of life would soon fade and the ‘child’ would be buried, with no one the wiser. Most frequently it was a faerie child, or an ancient faerie willing to be fed and cared for by a human 'foster mother', who replaced the child. Sometimes parents could recover their own child by tricking the changeling into revealing it's age by setting up empty eggshells and pretending to brew in them. This would so surprise the old faerie that he would reveal his nature.

Coblynau: Welsh mine goblins. Small grotesque creatures about eighteen inches tall, otherwise dressed much as miners. Unlike some faeries they are good natured, and it is very fortunate to see or hear one as their knocking in the mines will show where a rich lode of ore might be found. Although the coblynau seem to be quite busy with their work they are only going through the motions, accomplishing nothing.

Daoine Sidh: The heroic faerie race of Ireland, sometimes known as the Gentry or the Good People. They are the faeries of medieval romance, of human size and shining beauty who spent their time pursing the passtimes of the medieval nobility. Their homes were made under the hills and lakes, and in the land of Tir Nan Og. Among the faerie kings was Finvarra, who is sometimes thought to be the king of the dead.

Ellyllon: Tiny Welsh faeries, who are fond of toadstools and fairy butter. Often they will perform helpful tasks around the household much like the brownies.

Elves: Generally refers to the Scandinavian faerie folk, divided into light elves and dark elves. In Scotland faeries of human size were often known as elves, and their land as Elfame. In England the people referred to small faeries as elves, although the name was not felt to be flattering by the faeries themselves.

Ganconer: also Gean-cannah. Known as the ‘Love talker’, a handsome faerie who smoked a short clay pipe and appeared to country maidens. After an encounter with a ganconer the maid would pine away with the desire to see him again.

Goblins: An evil, malicious spirit, usually small and very ugly. The Hobgoblins, while mischevious, were thought to be more kindly disposed towards humans and include brownies in their number.

Gwragedd Annwn: Welsh water faeries. They are quite beautiful and can sometimes be won as wives by mortal men. If, however, a husband should violate a taboo, such as striking his faerie wife, she will return to her own people.

Gwyllion: Welsh mountain faeries, who would mislead travelers on dark mountain roads, although cold iron seemed to be a defense against them. In stormy weather they might visit a person’s house, where they would be greeted warmly for fear of what they might do if offended. Gwyllion were friendly to goats and might take their form.

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