78 A NATURAL HISTORY 



Of all Oracles, that of Apollo Pythius at Delphos, in the JEgean 

 Sea, was the moft celebrated, and confulted as the dernier Refort by 

 the Princes of thofe Times ; yea, all the Greeks reforted thither 

 for Counfel in Matters of Importance. At the firfl opening of 

 that Oracular OJlce^ Anfwers were given to the Querift in Verfe j 

 but upon People's ridiculing the Poornefs of the Verfification, 

 the Oracle fell to Profe. 'Tis flrange, that what they made a God^ 

 could not make a goodVerfeyhnt not flrange to fee the old Serpent 

 adhering to its firft Scheme of Politicks, by making the weaker 

 Veffel the Vehicle to convey his ilrong Delufions to the World. 



Some of thefe Draconick Serpents excel in the Senfation of 

 Hearing and Seeing, as well as in the Art of Killing ; and therefor© 

 a Dragon was made the Cofifervator of their Treajures and Ctirioji- 

 ties-, e.g. Mauritania in Africa y was famous for the Gardens of the 

 Hejperides (fo called from three Sifters and Daughters of King 

 Hejperius) that produced Golden Apples, and were guarded by a 

 Dragon, which Hercules having killed or charm *d into a profound 

 Sleep, he robbed the Golden Orchard. 



The Rod of Mofes, 'tis faid, ivas turned into a Serpent, The 

 Syriack,Arabick, and Septuagint Tranllations, fay, 'twas turned in- 

 to a Dragon ; and fo the Rods of the Magicians became Dragons, 



XII. TuEBaf/isk or Cockatrice, is a Serpent of the Draconick 

 Line, the Property of Africa, (ays ^]lian, and denied by others: 

 In fhape, refembles a Cock, the Tail excepted. Authors differ 

 about its Extra(5tion; the Egyptians fay, it fprings from the Egg 

 of the Bird Bis ; and others, from the Eggs of a Cock : Other 

 Conjedures about its Deibent, being as ridiculous, I forbear to 

 mention them. Nor are they agreed whether it more inclines to 

 the black or yellow Colour j nor^re their Sentiments lefs various 

 about its Stature. 



I T is grofs in Body, of fiery Eyes, and iliarp Head, on which 

 it wears a Creft, like a Cock's Comb; and has the Honour to be 

 lliled Regulus by the Latins^ the Little King of Serpents-, and 'lis 

 generally fuppofed to be terrible to then). The Sight of this 

 Animal, and Sound of his Voice, puts them to flight, and even to 

 over-run their Prey*: Yea, TraditioJi adds, that his Eyes and 

 Breath are killing; that is, I prefume, when he grafps the Spoil. 



Several 



* S'lli'.o ejus n 'iq-uos terreri c^ pradi?!? derdiniuere. 



