Liverpool, like Venice, had once been a small fishing village. It was named after the Liver bird, a creature that looked very much like a seagull.
This bird's emblem could be seen on Liverpool's football crest, and it was also the city's bird. Two rust-stained bronze birds stood atop the clock tower by the River Mersey.
Pomona examined a small bronze sculpture in her hand. It had been transformed from the monster bird statue in the maze.
According to ancient legend, Liver birds always came in pairs, one male and one female, and these two had their own duties. Bella watched over the horizon, looking after the fishermen returning home and protecting passing ships so they could safely enter Liverpool's harbor. Bertie, meanwhile, kept watch over the entire city, guarding every citizen's safety.
But Bella could never—and ideally should never—turn around to look at Bertie, because legend said that the moment the two Liver birds faced each other would be the moment Liverpool was reduced to ashes.
The reason the Liver bird did not look quite like a bird was that it had never truly existed. It was invented by people and was usually considered a combination of a cormorant and an eagle.
Over the past few centuries, especially after the Industrial Revolution, humanity's expanding range of activity had driven many animals extinct. Some had even died out before humans ever discovered them.
Diricawls were called dodos by Muggles. In Muggle eyes, they were already extinct, and specimens could only be found in museums.
Pomona did not recognize the bird in her hand either, so she could only seek help from an ornithologist.
She could not understand why this place had come to mind. Scamander clearly lived in Dorset, on the northern coast of the English Channel.
"Madam." Kreacher appeared