Jersey Devil

In the folklore of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the Jersey Devil is a bizarre creature first sighted several times in the early 19th century, and several more times in later years. According to legend, the creature is reputed to be the 13th child of a woman named Mrs. Leeds. Infuriated with having so many children, she cursed this 13th child, saying that she hoped it would be a devil. Sure enough, when it was born in 1735, the newborn demon flew up the chimney and out into the Pine Barrens.

The Leeds Devil, as it was first known, had a horselike head with batlike wings and cloven hooves. The most famous sightings were in the early 20th century, but it has been reputedly seen on many occasions before and since.