The "Helmingham Herbal and Bestiary" from c1500 is fast becoming my favourite for its illustrations. This is its version of an ibex. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #ibex

This medieval ibex from a c1250-1260 "De bestiis et aliis rebus" looks like it's going to struggle to land on its horns from that angle. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #ibex

Our medieval beast this week is the ibex which is described as a wild goat with horns so strong it can jump from heights and land on them without damage as in this c1240 illustration. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #ibex

This smiling echeneis looks like it is pushing the ship rather than holding it back. It is from a 13th century French version of "Liber de natura rerum". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis

This medieval illustrator chose to give the echeneis feet, emphasising the amphibian quality with the colour and shape of the head. The illustration is in from a German version of the "Physiologus", 1300-1320. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis

The echeneis was described as being a fish "half a foot in length" but otherwise was left to the illustrator's imagination. The illustrator of Ann Walsh's bestiary (1400-1425) went for generic fish as in this image. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis

The medieval echeneis was a fish that clung to ships and slowed their passage and was found in the Indian Ocean. This fish and frustrated sailor are from the Bestiare of Pierre de Beauvais (13th century). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis

Another technique medieval illustrators used to produce the glow of a hercinia was to give it a gilt background as in this image from a 13th century Second Family English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia

Medieval illustrators often used gilt (or white) to show the glow of a hercinia as in this lovely image from the Worksop Bestiary, c1185. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia

The medieval hercinia was said to act as a beacon in the dark because it glowed so brightly. This glowing hercinia is from a 13th century "Liber de naturis bestiarum". #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia