DRAGON.] NATURAL HISTORY. 93 



water enough to quench his great thirst, and openeth his 

 mouth therefore against the wind to quench the burning 

 of his thirst in that wise. Therefore when he seeth ships 

 sail in the sea in great wind, he flieth against the sail to 

 take there cold wind, and overthroweth the ship sometimes 

 for greatness of body, and by strong rese against the sail. 

 And when the shipmen see the Dragon come nigh, and 

 know his coming by the water that swelleth against him, 

 they strike the sail anon, and scape in that wise. Also 

 for might of the venom, his tongue is always a-reared 

 [raised up], and sometimes he setteth the air on fire by 

 heat of his venom ; so that it seemeth, that he bloweth 

 and casteth fire out of his mouth, and sometimes he bloweth 

 out outrageous blasts, and thereby the air is corrupt and 

 infected, and thereof cometh pestilent evils. And they 

 dwell sometimes in the sea, and sometimes swim in rivers, 

 and lurk sometimes in caves and in dens, and sleep but 

 seld, but wake nigh always. The Dragon's biting that 

 eateth venomous beasts is perilous, as the Dragon's biting 

 that eateth scorpions, for against his biting unneath is any 

 remedy or medicine found. Also all venomous beasts flee 

 and void the grease and the fatness of the Dragon ; and 

 his grease meddled with honey cureth dimness of the eyes. 

 Also those fishes die that be bitten of the Dragon. 



Bartholomew (Bertbelet), bk. xviii. 38. 



THE Dragon has wings formed from its loose and mobile 

 skin, and they are broad in proportion to the size of its 

 body. Wherever it stops, it poisons the air. Between 

 eagles and Dragons there are often fights, and these much 

 more doubtful if in the air. Also the vulture and the 

 Dragon fight, because they prey on animals. 



From the brains of Dragons is hatched the stone Dra- 

 contias ; but the stone is only to be taken from the living 

 animal ; for if it die first, the hardness of the stone dis- 

 appears with the breath. Dragons are put to sleep with 

 medicated grasses, and thus the stone is procured ; and the 

 Eastern kings are especially proud of the use of this stone. 

 The heads of Dragons make a house prosperous and fortu- 

 nate. Dragon's flesh is of the colour of glass, and it cools 

 those who eat it. Therefore the Ethiopians who dwell on 

 that burning coast gladly eat the flesh of Dragons, so that 



