CHAV. VIII.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 193 



if one of these be deposited in a dung-hill, 

 it will produce a basilisk or winged serpent ! 

 prognosticating all sorts of misfortunes to 

 the owner, and looking upon the unfortunate 

 cock as an evil spirit, which they are however 

 afraid to kill. It arose in consequence of 

 eggs, of a very diminutive size, being known 

 to have been layed by hens wearing all the 

 appearance of being cocks, by a change 

 of plumage when they became old ; instances 

 of which have been recorded by many au- 

 thors in the Annaks des Sciences, and re- 

 cently by White, of Selborne, who relates 

 several anecdotes in proof of the fact.* We 

 must not, therefore, feel astonished that tales 

 of these "freaks of nature," accompanied 

 with comments of the ignorant and credulous, 

 have given rise to the fable of the cock- 

 atrice. 



* See his Natural History of that village, Letter xxxv. 



