Scientist R. Ogilvie Crombie reported having the following experience at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh, Scotland:

"Suddenly, I saw a figure dancing round a tree about twenty or twenty-five yards away from me--a beautiful little figure about three feel tall. I saw with astonishmnet that it was a faun, the Greek mythological being, half-human half-animal. He had a pointed chin and ears and two little horns on his forehead. His shaggy legs ended in cloven hooves and his skin was honey-colored. I watched him in astonishment, not believing my eyes.

For a moment, I wondered if perhaps he was a boy made up for a school show. Yet he could not be--something about him was decidely not human. Was he an hallucination? There were one or two other people walking about in the gardens. I looked at them and then back at this beautiful little being. He was still there and seemed to be as solid and real as they were. I tried hard to analyze this experience and explain him away. Suddenly I was brought up sharp--what was I trying to do? Why could I not accept it, see what happened, and analyze it later? I began to watch the little being with delight as he circled round another tree.

He danced over to where I was sitting, stood looking at me for a moment and then sat cross-legged in front of me. I looked at him. He was very real. I bent forward and said:

'Hallo.'

He leapt to his feet, startled, and stared at me. Can you see me?

'Yes.'

I don't believe it. Humans can't see us.

'Oh, yes. Some of us can.'

What am I like?

I described him as I saw him. Still looking bewildered, he began to dance round in small circles.

What am I doing?

I told him.

He stopped dancing and said, You must be seeing me.

He danced across to the seat beside me, sat down and, turning towards me, looked up and said, Why are human beings so stupid?"

--Excerpt from The Findhorn Garden: Pioneering a New Vision of Man and Nature in Cooperation by The Findhorn Community [Harper Colophon Books, 1975]

Fairy Spotting Date: March 1966