"Hippogriff The winged horse, whose father was a griffin and mother a filly (Greek, hippos, a horse, and gryphos, a griffin). A symbol of love. (Ariosto: Orlando Furioso, iv. 18, 19.) "
--The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

"So saying, he caught him up, and without wing Of hippogrif, bore through the air sublime, Over the wilderness and o'er the plain."
--Milton: Paradise Regained, iv. 541-3.

Hippogriffs are flying monsters that have an equal likelihood to be predator, prey, or steed.

The hippogriff is a monstrous hybrid of eagle and equine features. It has the ears, neck, mane, torso, and hind legs of a horse. The wings, forelegs, and face are those of an eagle. It is about the size of a light riding horse. A hippogriff may be colored russet, golden tan, or a variety of browns. The feathers are usually a different shade than the hide. The beak is ivory or golden yellow.

Hippogriffs prefer the desolate sections of the temperate and tropic regions, especially rolling hills that enable them to get quickly airborne, and are fiercely territorial. If properly coaxed, hippogriffs will make excellent flying mounts. Although, their large size decreases their maneuverability, their speed is unparralleled.