ZOOLOGY IN TIME OF SHAKESPEARE 251 



nature hath ordayned him for that purpose ; 

 for, besides the strength of his poyson, which is 

 uncurable, he hath a certain combe or Corronet 

 uppon his head, as shall be shewed in due place/' 



Pliny records that the basilisk destroys all 

 shrubs not only by contact, but even those it 

 breathes upon, it burns up grass and breaks 

 the stones, so tremendous is its noxious influence. 

 The origin of this baleful creature was believed 

 to be from a " Cockes egge " laid when the " Cocke 

 groweth old ... about the beginning of the 

 Dogge-dayes . . . and afterwards sat upon by 

 a snake or toad/' Another school, however, 

 held the view " that the Cocke doth sit on that 

 egge himselfe." 



The fatal effect of the eyes of the basilisk, 

 " redde, or somewhat inclyning to blacknesse," 

 is referred to many times in Shakespeare's plays. 

 We give but two instances : 



" I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk." 



(3 "Henry VI.," III. ii. 187.) 

 " Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead." 



("Richard III.," I. ii. 151.) 



The only effective way of dealing with the 

 basilisk was to " exhibit/' as the doctors used 



