In the folklore among many Native North American tribes, water babies, that are small in human form, inhabit lakes, streams, springs, and other bodies of water. The are not malicious, but do at times play tricks on humans, and are feared. Some are said to possess powerful medicine which they frequently bestow on humans in times of need. Elementals do appear to clairvoyants and are easy recognizable. Many are claimed to wear clothes and jewelry.
Gnomes are dwarfish living in caves and mountains.
Sylphs appear as butterflies, undines as waves, and salamanders as lizard-like creatures that frolic in flames. Thus far elementals, except the water babies, seem like nice, friendly little creatures of nature. But, others share a different viewpoint. Although the elementals are classed as nature spirits, they are thought by some to be entities of the astral plane. Some writers describe them as evil, others as evil or just mischievous, others say they are both good and bad.