New episode: Spectral Evidence: The Supernatural in Court. Star witnesses Chris and Simon exhume details of changeling murder cases, study paranormal affidavits and ghostly witnesses, and put a rapping medium on trial for disturbing the peace in church. buzzsprout.com/1859647/149890…

Yet more mermaid children, 1854. If this follows the pattern elsewhere then there will have been local folklore that the pregnant mother had been shocked by a shark at the aquarium or a pike in the lake.

An appeal for anyone with knowledge of Syrian folklore: long shot but.... Is this or was this really a thing? 'Mermaids of wax are given by women on recovery from sickness.' [1854]

Ritual Boundaries Magic and Differentiation in Late Antique Christianity ift.tt/uA0x9Ti

Which is the pekingese, which is the mangy alsatian and was there even a King Charles spaniel?

One of the most bizarre academic articles ever written. Karle Banse in 1990 made the argument (tongue in cheek?) that mermaids had existed until they were wiped out by a jellyfish epidemic. Sources include marine biology tomes and mermaid fiction, not least The Little Mermaid!

Washed up in Cornwall in 1786. Can any marine biologists tell me what in God's name this is?!

A nice supernatural tale from 1853: a vanishing boat on the Tay (Scotland). The man claimed not to be drunk and ghosts were seen by others on the same days. Folklore flap.

Settling an argument like men. In 19C Herefordshire two rivals decided on this unusual form of duel: standing on their heads in a bucket of water. Tom lost and then went and put his head in a wasp nest. 'the above is fact'.

If i could have seen one bit of Elizabethan theatre 'live' it would have been this: Queen Liz is leaving the performance and a petting zoo of British folklore beings begin to keen, 'wringing their hands, tearing their hair' at her departure.

Friday.

[Detail from 'A crocodile, a gigantic fish and an animal that eats flying fish'. Gouache painting with Persian lettering, artist unknown. Date: 1750. Wellcome Collection, reference: 582556i]

The best explanation I've come across for the mermaid:

More Gilbert James mermaids (1899). Mermaid meets mermaid.

More mermaid prostitutes (1899) or is this just a reference to the fact that she drank a lot? Chris Woodyard Whores of Yore

'Amorous slut of a mermaid': early Victorians didn't pull folklore punches. The legend of the mermaid's stone, common in the Highlands.