Changelings
The substitution of a little old mannikin of the elf race, for a young child. There are many tales representative of this belief in Scotland. The changeling grows up peevish and misshapen, always crying, and gives many proofs of its origin to those versed in such matters. There are many ways of getting rid of him, such as sticking a knife into him, making him sit on a gridiron with a fire below, dropping him into a river, etc., - which one would Charnock imagine would prove fairly successful The changeling sometimes gives himself away by unthinking reference to his age.