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 (Berthelet), bk. xviii. § 38. 
Tue 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 
