Mermaids are sea fairies,with the upper bodies of lovely woman, the tails of fish, though in early Celtic tales,they were simply sea dwelling maidens. 

Sometimes these exotic creatures come to the surface of the sea and sit on the rocks near the shore combing their beautiful hair, 

The mermaid is an enchantress, a seductive siren with a sweet voice, but her songs lure ships onto the rocky coasts of Scotland and Cornwall  

They take the souls of drowned sailors to the bottom of the sea by the mermaid where they keep them in lobster pots. 

Anyone who falls asleep on the beach is in danger of being taken by the mermaid to live with her in her underwater palace.