When Gilderoy Lockhart unleashes a cageful of Cornish pixies into his classroom, utter pandemonium erupts, with ink, books, and broken glass flying every which way. The fact that pixies cause such chaos under Lockhart's watch may tell us something about the good professor's character, for these tiny redheaded fairies of western England have a reputation for picking on people they consider lazy. In the folklore of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, pixies are known to help out people in need, but those who fail to do their share or forget to reward their wee helpers with a bowl of cream to drink and a clean-swept hearth to dance upon are advised not to leave their prized possessions within reach.
      Although similar to many other fairies in behaviour, pixies are quite distinctive in appearance. In addition to their fiery red hair, they can be identified by their pointed ears, turned up noses, and distinctive squint. They are usually about seven or eight inches tall, although some stories suggest they can be any size they choose. Pixies almost always dress in green and often wear a pointed cap. They live underground, or in caves, meadows, or groves of trees, but can also be enticed to move indoors. A homeowner eager to enlist the aid of these fairies -- to lend a hand with the spinning or give a quick pinch to a lazy housemaid -- might try leaving the last harvest of apples under the trees, a practice known as "pixyworting." It is a mistake to reward your pixies with new clothes, however; like elves and other household helpers, pixies are compelled to leave if offered such a present.
      Pixies have a number of tricks up their little sleeves, some of them quite malevolent. A favourite is to lead travellers astray. Many of us have had the experience of walking in a familiar place only to suddenly find ourselves hopelessly lost, unable to find a recognisable landmark. In western England, this disconcerting experience is known as being "pixy led" or "pixilated." Pixies are also notorious horse thieves, said to steal the animals during the night and ride them around in circles, twisting their manes and tails into impossible knots. Another form of nightly entertainment is dancing in a forest fairy ring to the music of chirping crickets and frogs. If a human happens to step into a fairy ring, he or she is likely to be compelled to dance all night. The best way to counteract this effect, as well as to avoid being pixy led, is to wear your coat or clothing inside out. Finally, many stories tell of pixies stealing human babies and leaving fairy changelings in their place. As recently as the nineteenth century, women in Somerset and Devon still tied their babies into their cribs to keep pixies from stealing them.