Harpy

a fabulous creature in ireek mythology, considered as a minister of the vengeance of the gods. They are described as hideous mon: sters with wings, of fierce and loath: some aspect, with their faces pale with hunger, living in an atmosphere ot filth and stench, and com tamin at ing everything that they approached. A harpy in heraldry is represented as 4 vulture with the head and breast ot a woman. The name harpy is also applied to s raptorial bird, an inhabitant of the great tropical forests, where it prey: upon all quadrupeds except the most powerful, chiefly, however, »n monkeys and sloths; even children are said tc have been carried off by it. It inhabits the tropical regions. of South America, from Bolivia and Paraguay to Mexico.