THE DRAGON: A FANCY OR A FACT 127 



Europe from India. One was sent to Charles II. by 

 " the Great Sophy," and handed over to the Royal 

 Society by the King for experiment. These horns were 

 asserted to be the most powerful antidote or destroyer 

 of poison, and a test for the presence of poison in drink. 

 There was no truth whatever in the assertion, as the Royal 

 Society at once showed. Yet they were valued at enor- 

 mous prices, and pieces were sold for their weight in gold. 

 A German traveller in the time of Queen Elizabeth saw 

 one which was kept among the Queen's jewels at Windsor, 

 and was valued, according to this writer, at ; 10,000. 



Credulity, fancy, and hasty judgment are accountable 

 for the belief in mythical and legendary monsters. Yet 

 they have great interest for the scientific study of the 

 growth of human thought and of the relationships of the 

 races of mankind. They are often presented to us in 

 beautiful stories, carvings, or pictures, having a child- 

 like sincerity and a concealed symbolism which give to 

 the wondrous creatures charm and human value. 



