SOURCE: "A Glimpse of the Sinless Star" (Pearson's Magazine, March 1900) by George Griffith

DESCRIPTION: "The flying figures which came hovering near to the Astronef, without evincing any apparent sign of fear, were certainly the strangest that human eyes had looked upon. In some respects they had a sufficient resemblance to human form for them to be taken for winged men and women, while in another they bore a decided resemblance to birds. Their bodies and limbs were almost human in shape, but of slenderer and lighter build; and from the shoulder-blades and muscles of the back there sprang a pair of wings arching up above their heads. The body was covered in front and down the back between the wings with a sort of tunic of a light, silken-looking material, which must have been clothing, since there were many different colours. In stature these inhabitants of the Love-Star varied from about five feet six to five feet, but both the taller and the shorter of them were all of nearly the same size, from which it was easy to conclude that this difference in stature was on Venus, as well as on the Earth, one of the broad distinctions between the sexes....'And look what funny little faces they've got! Half bird, half human, and soft, downy feathers instead of hair. I wonder whether they talk or sing. I wish you'd open the doors again, Lenox. I'm sure they can't possibly mean us any harm; they are far too innocent for that. What soft eyes they have, and what a thousand pities it is we shan't be able to understand them.'" ("A Glimpse of the Sinless Star" by George Griffith)

NOTES: The Venusians are winged humanoids of slight stature with feathery hair on their heads and even ruffs of feather down their legs. These creatures have little difference between males and females. All have large eyes that are not well adapted to bright light outside of the Venusian atmosphere. These creature are entirely without deceit or amoral behavior. The visitors from Earth enjoy their company but leave because they do not want to allow them to become corrupted by Earthly misdeeds.

HISTORY: Griffith's winged beings are dull. Simply put, they are too close to angels to be of any real interest. That being said, these characters are responsible for a whole slew of winged Venusians and Martians in the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, Leigh Brackett, Edmond Hamilton, C. L. Moore and Henry Kuttner and through them any other writers.