Word: sphinx
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...parents could have answered the Theban Sphinx, for like Dr. Aleš Hrdlička, famed Bohemian-born doctor of medicine and physical anthropologist with the U. S. National Museum, they have rarely seen children walking like little bears. In 1927 and 1928 Dr. Hrdlička wrote three learned papers on the subject of walking-on-all-fours. Only 41 cases could he locate, so he decided it was a rarity, gave it a Greekish name, tetrapodisis...
...What is that which is fourfooted, three-footed and two-footed?" That horrendous bogey, the ancient Theban Sphinx, who had the face of a woman, the feet and tail of a lion, and the wings of a bird, ate up the Thebans who could not guess her riddle.* Smart Oedipus answered her: Man, who goes on allfours as a baby, on two legs as an adult, on two legs and a cane in old age. Whereupon the vexed Sphinx threw herself from a mountain...