3 i8 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



by the Graecian Basiliscos, and by the Latine, Regnlns, 

 because he seemeth to be the King of Serpents, not 

 for his magnitude or greatnesse : For there are many 

 Serpents bigger than he, as there be many foure-footed 

 Beastes bigger than the Lyon, but, because of his stately 

 pace, and magnanimious mind : for hee creepeth not on 

 the earth like other Serpents, but goeth halfe upright, 

 for which occasion all other Serpentes avoyde his sight. 

 And it seemeth nature hath ordayned him for that pur- 



pose ; for, besides the strength of his poyson, which is 

 uncurablc, he hath a certain combe or Corronet uppon 

 his head, as shall be shewed in due place." 



Pliny thus describes " The Serpents called Basilisks. 

 There is the same power * also in the serpent called the 



* Alluding to the Catoblepon (see ante, p. 85), and its power of killing 

 animals and human beings with its eye. This power does not seem confined 

 to animals, for Sir John Mandeville says : "An other yle there is northward 

 where there are many evill and fell women, and they have precious stones in 

 their eies, and they have such kinde y l if they behold any man with wrath, they 

 slcy them of the beholding, as the Basalisk docth." 



