SOURCE: "The Abonimations of Yondo" by Clark Ashton Smith (1960) Arkham House, though probably written earlier.

DESCRIPTION: "The chuckle grew louder, but for awhile I could see nothing. At last I caught a whitish glimmer in the darkness; then, with all the rapidity of nightmare, a monstrous Thing emerged. It had a pale, hairless, egg-shaped body, large as that of a gravid she-goat; and this body was mounted on nine long wavering legs with many flanges, like the legs of some enormous spider. The creature ran past me to the water's edge; and I saw that there were no eyes in its oddly sloping face; but two knife-like ears rose high above its head, and a thin, wrinkled snout hung down across its mouth, whose flabby lips, parted in that eternal chuckle, revealed rows of bats' teeth. It drank acidly of the bitter lake then, with thirst satisfied, it turned and seemed to sense my presence, for the wrinkled snout rose and pointed toward me, sniffing audibly..."

NOTES: It is unknown if the Chuckler is aggressive or not.

HISTORY: Clark Ashton Smith created several bizarre creatures for this story which is little more than an exercise in monster making. Also see: The Shadow, The Soldier, The Mummy-King and the Venus of Yondo.

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