seen. Berchtold, a white-cloaked being and leader of the Wild Hunt. Böögg, or bogeyman, of the Sechseläuten festival. Dragons, serpentine monsters often having wings and breathing fire. One such tale involved a cooper who drunkenly stumbled into a cave where he encountered a pair of these creatures. These dragons were unusual in that they were friendly and allowed the cooper to stay with them through the winter. However, when he returned home in the spring he found that he was so used to eating dragon food that he could no longer stomach human fare, and eventually starved to death. Dragonet ("little dragon") tales originated in Switzerland during the Middle Ages. Dwarfs are little men associated with hills and the earth. Described as happy and helpful, they raise cattle and produce magical cheeses. This cheese has the property of replenishing itself as long as a piece is left over after eating. They are sometimes portrayed as wearing green cloaks and red caps, and having long white beards. They live in caves and mines and they know where subterranean treasures may be found. They are guardians of the chamois, a species of mountain goat. They are expert blacksmiths and weaponsmiths, and despite their good nature they will play vengeful pranks if they are insulted or mistreated. Fairies, a general class of magical beings. In Swiss fairy tale literature they are ruled by a Fairy Queen, are associated with flowers and warmth, and have frequent battles with the frost giants. Frost Giants inhabit the high peaks of the Alps and are ruled by a Frost King. Their children take the form of avalanches, and the giants take great pride in the destruction caused by them. They have the ability to freeze any living thing that gets near them. They are sometimes portrayed as having long beards made of icicles and wearing wooden shoes hollowed out from the trunks of fir trees. Frost giants may literally melt into puddles of cold water if the weather is too warm or if they are exposed to the charms of a particularly beautiful fairy. Gnomes, earth spirits or elementals from the writings of the Swiss physician Paracelsus. They are said to have caused the landslide that destroyed the Swiss village of Plurs in 1618. The villagers had become wealthy from a local gold mine created by the gnomes who poured liquid gold down into a vein for