Hinkypunk

In the folklore of England's West Country, the hinkypunk is said to lurk in remote areas at night, waiting for an approching traveler before he lights a lantern and steps into view. The weary pedestrian, happy to see a flicker of light in the distance, heads towards it, mistaking it for his destination or for a fellow traveler up ahead on the trail. The next he knows, he falls into a ditch, sinks into a bog, or tumbles off a cliff - much to the amusement and delight of the hinkypunk.

Many similar spirits - characterized by flickering flames and the desire to lure gullible travelers into peril - are said to roam the English countryside.

Interestingly, in many parts of England, strange lights with no human attached to them are frequently seen flickering in the distance. But according to scientific view, what travelers are actually seeing is the spontaneous ignition of marsh gases commonly emitted from boggy areas. However, for centuries people believed the lights were caused by malicious spirits.