As a child my paternal Grandfather used to tell me of a strange event that happened when he was younger (I think that it would have been in either the nineteen-twenties, thirties or forties) which has fascinated me for years.
He was born and raised in Jersey and the story is set there. One summer there was a freak fall of snow with drifts everywhere (I'm sure that this sort of weather abberation is not unheard of). During the time there was only one baby born on the island and it was not as it should have been.
My Grandfather described the baby as having a "beak and feathers" and said that the mother had gone so far as to take her (I believe that this child was described to me as female) for walks in a pram through the town.
I am desperate to know if this has any basis in truth as it seems quite far-fetched. Is it a story made up from disparate elements? Was my Grandfather simply pulling my leg? Even so, are there instances on record of babies with bird-like characteristics?
Please advise...
He was born and raised in Jersey and the story is set there. One summer there was a freak fall of snow with drifts everywhere (I'm sure that this sort of weather abberation is not unheard of). During the time there was only one baby born on the island and it was not as it should have been.
My Grandfather described the baby as having a "beak and feathers" and said that the mother had gone so far as to take her (I believe that this child was described to me as female) for walks in a pram through the town.
I am desperate to know if this has any basis in truth as it seems quite far-fetched. Is it a story made up from disparate elements? Was my Grandfather simply pulling my leg? Even so, are there instances on record of babies with bird-like characteristics?
Please advise...