From the time when humans and animals faced the same world, living in close proximity and observing each other’s every movement, people have ascribed certain powers and significance to the birds and beasts around them, and folktales, rituals and symbolism have sprung up to describe and interpret the creatures of the real and imaginary worlds. What is the heraldic significance of the dragon? Why is the beaver a sacred animal to the Blackfeet Indians of North America? How far-reaching is the cult of the werewolf, and what are the roots of superstitions about black cats? Gleaned from a wealth of cultural sources, 'Symbolic and Mythological Animals' offers an enlightening account of the role animals – real and fantastic – have played in shaping the myths, religions and customs of the world, from ancient times to the present day. A complete A-Z of the insects, fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals – and combinations of these – that have inspired human artistry and lore, these entries contain abundant information on the meaning and symbolism associated with different animals by distinct societies and traditions. Bringing together the folklore and mythologies of ancient Rome, Greece, Britain, Babylon, Egypt, and North and South America,as well as of the peoples of present-day Europe, Australasia, Africa and the Americas, this illustrated sourcebook is a cornucopia of fascinating and informative detail about the abiding power and beauty of the natural world, and the place animal myth and symbolism hold in the collective history and culture of humanity.