This is what's written in Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You about Hobgoblins.
Common Hob
Hobgoblins (Family: Amicidiabolidae)[]
Similar to goblins in appearance, hobgoblins, or hobs as they are sometimes called, are a less malicious and more mischievous type of faerie.
Friendly and sometimes even helpful, hobgoblins still have a penchant for pranks ranging from annoying to infuriating. They are most fond of stealing
Piddledrip, a Common Hob (Diabolus praestigiator).
trinkets and food, but they also enjoy tripping people and otherwise causing amusing havoc. Like goblins, hobgoblins are scavengers, but unlike goblins they are solitary in nature and are never spotted in large numbers. It is unclear if they are a wholly different species from goblins or merely the same species with a remarkably different disposition.
The mischievous Puck from William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, identified himself as a hobgoblin.
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Many times, children and pets are blamed for this creature's pranks and practical jokes.
Known species[]
- Common Hobgoblin (Diabolus praestigiator)
Additional facts[]
Just like Goblins, Hobgoblins are born without teeth. They often steal teeth children have left out for the Tooth Faerie.
Many have bat-like features, which include a large, fleshy nose and huge ears adapted for high-frequency hearing. They are primarily nocturnal, and therefore, they have very acute senses of smell and hearing.
Another similarity to Goblins are the fact Hobs have small, secondary, heat- and motion-detecting eyes resembling those found on many insects.
It is implied they are incapable of shutting off their Invisibility, which may be why they have developed the ability to permanently bestow The Sight to anyone whose eyes were exposed to their saliva.
Hobgoblins and Goblins are related to Knockers.
Known Hobs[]
Arthur Spiderwick once encountered a Hobgoblin called Piddledrip, whom he portrayed in the Guide.
On May the 14th, 1908, he had a brief sight of a Hobgoblin who would play an important role in the adventures of the Grace children many years later.
A child named Sam M. was kept awake at night by a Hobgoblin whom they named Puddingtoe.
Behind the scenes[]
Hogsqueal
In British folklore, a Hobgoblin could be either another name for Goblin, or a benevolent but troublesome Faerie resembling a small hairy man related to the Brownie. The latter fact seem to be confirmed by Field Guide, where it is clearly written Brownies are also known as Hobs in some sources.in the end of the movie Mulgarath turns to a crow and then Hogsqueal eats Mulgarath.