Quotes / Our Gryphons Are Different

Non è finto il destrier, ma naturale,
ch'una giumenta generò d'un Grifo:
simile al padre avea la piuma e l'ale,
li piedi anteriori, il capo e il grifo;
in tutte l'altre membra parea quale
era la madre, e chiamasi ippogrifo;
che nei monti Rifei vengon, ma rari,
molto di là dagli aghiacciati mari.

No fiction wrought magic lore,
But natural was the steed the wizard pressed;
For him a filly to griffin bore;
Hight hippogryph. In wings and beak and crest,
Formed like his sire, as in the feet before;
But like the mare, his dam, in all the rest.
Such on Riphaean hills, though rarely found,
Are bred, beyond the frozen ocean's bound.

The description of the hippogriff in Orlando Furioso, original Italian and English translation; not necessarily the Ur-Example, but definitely the Trope Maker.

There can be little doubt, really: they are clearly creatures of Chaos. No wild beast was ever born with such a bizarre amalgamation of parts. A raptor's head does not find itself on the body of a lion without without the most unnatural of influences being brought to bear. Oh, I grant that they are a stable mutation now. I daresay they have been for thousands of years. But once, long ago, they were born of Chaos, and to Chaos' purposes they may yet be turned.

Eckhard, Nuln scholar, later burnt as a heretic, on griffons, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: Old World Bestiary — A Compendium of Creatures Fair and Foul

"Dude, check it out. That bird? Has a cat's ass."

Scootaloo, My Little Pony: Totally Legit Recap

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