Griffin

Griffin, a fabulous monster, described by Ctesias as a four-footed bird, dwelling in the mountains of India, of the size of a wolf, but with legs and claws like a lion. The feathers on the body are black, but those on the breast are red. In heraldry it is usually described as half-eagle and half-lion. It is composed of the head, neck, wings, legs and talons of the former, conjoined to the body, tail, and hind legs of the latter; but the head, unlike that of the eagle, is adorned with a pair of ears. It probably owes its origin to the ancient armoriai practice of dimidation. It occurs in heraldry in most of the ordinary positions of the lion, but when the griffin is placed in the position known as "rampant," it is then always termed "segreant." The sex of this creature is not determined, but there exists in heraldry another equally chimerical conception known as the "male griffin," differing from the "griffin" only inasmuch that it is deprived of wings and is adorned with spikes at various points about its body.