The Halcyon Weasel

We posted our design for the lost ‘halcyon weasel’ costume, part of Eythin’s historic spring festival parade. Below is a transcript of the entry we found in “Eythin: Flora and Fauna, real and imagined” by Clea Basquin, a small but beautiful pamphlet found in a filing cabinet on Eythin, enjoy!

“There lives among the fauna of this county a creature of singular purpose and design. The Halcyon Weasel lives in the banklands and rills that roll water into the sea. Jet black, this weasel is of the same serpentine build as its common cousin, and is in possession of the same tenacity and doggedness for which it is best known. It is only as it moves that the distinctions between its fellows becomes apparent, for under moonlight, in half seen hues, its coat glistens with the oil slick stains of petrol rainbows. It’s claws, dainty and curved shine copper under light footed pads, and eyes shining like anthracite in the carefully considering head. It’s teeth, small and needling are made of glass like fish bones, and nestle closely together in its jaws. The fact that this creature is not more widely spread can be attributed solely to the fact it subsists entirely on Kingfisher flesh. The scarcity and swift winged nature of its prey means that this pugnacious carnivore spends much of its year in famine, chasing rainbows. The only salvation for the beast is during the calm days of summer, when the kingfishers nest on the open water and the weasels can swim out and feast. Many of course do not make the journey due to their wretched states but those that do return with full bellies and iridescent coats.

Their numbers are further dimmed by the presence of a weasel eating giant kingfisher present in colossal numbers across the Cornish coast”