>>22856175Misdreavus' nocturnal habits of wailing to frighten people and its similarity in appearance to a disembodied head are shared by various mythological creatures. One of these is the nukekubi, which shares the similarities of nocturnal habits, flying about as a decapitated head, and wailing to increase its victims' fright. Another possible origin is the banshee, a female spirit from Gaelic folklore who was known for its unearthly wailing and screaming. It is also possible that it was based on a Lang Suir, a type of vampire in Malaysian mythology known to appear as a flying decapitated head of a woman.
>http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Misdreavus_%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29In legend, a banshee is a fairy woman who begins to wail if someone is about to die. In Scottish Gaelic mythology, she is known as the bean sìth or bean nighe and is seen washing the bloodstained clothes or armour of those who are about to die. Alleged sightings of banshees have been reported as recently as 1948.[1] Similar beings are also found in Welsh,[2] Norse,[3][4][5] and folklore of the United States.[6][7]
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee 
