~*~Leprechauns~*~
Leprechauns are characteristically tricky, merry, and mischievous. Leprechaun means "the maker of one shoe". They make shoes for faeries and are never seen working on more than one shoe. Unlike faeries leprechauns can be spotted easily. Those who have seen leprechauns describe them as a merry little fellow usually wearing a green coat and shoes with big buckles. Leprechauns are fond of three-sided hats and can be spinning on them from time to time. They hibernate underground in the winter and emerge during the summer months. Leprechauns also know the places of hidden gold, which makes them so popular among mortals. But once caught a leprechaun cannot be held. Once you begin to interrogate him he always manages to escape. A leprechaun will very rarely give away the place of hidden treasure. There is one story where a leprechaun showed a farmer the only plant in an entire field of ragwort under which gold was buried. The farmer tied his red garter to the plant and went to fetch a shovel but when he returned every single ragwort in the field had a red garter tied to it. If you happen to spot a leprechaun before he sees you he usually becomes more co-operative and can be persuaded to show you the gold.