A banshee is a female spirit in Irish folklore that is believed to herald the death of a family member by screaming, wailing, shrieking, or keening. The scream is also called "caoine," which means "keening," and is a warning that there will be an imminent death in the family. When several banshees appear at once, it indicates the death of someone great or holy. The tales sometimes recounted that the woman, though called a fairy, was a ghost, often of a specific murdered woman, or a mother who died in childbirth. Some sources suggest that the banshee laments only the descendants of the "pure Milesian stock" of Ireland, with the original belief appearing to associate the folklore with a number of ancient Irish families. According to tradition, some families had their own banshee, with the Ua Briain banshee, named Aibell, being the ruler of 25 other banshees who would always be at her attendance. The banshee is usually found near graveyards, fairy rings, or ancient Irish ruins. The appearance of a banshee can vary, but it is usually depicted as a floating female spirit with long, flowing hair, who screams throughout the night. She can also appear as a beautiful, pale, enchanting woman with long, red or silver hair, wearing a white or silver dress, or as an old witch dressed in black with long, grey hair and a veil over her face. Not all banshees are hate-filled creatures; some had strong ties to their families in life and continued to watch over them in death.