78 A NATURAL HISTORY 



O F all Oracles, that o^ Apollo Pythius at Delphos, in the ^gean 

 Sea, was the moft celebrated, and confulted as the dernier Refort by 

 the Princes of thofe Times ; yea, all the Greeks reforted thither 

 for Counfel in Matters of Importance. At the firfl opening of 

 that Oracular Office, Anfwers were given to the Querift in Verfe ; 

 but upon People's ridiculing the Poornefs of the Verfification, 

 the Oracle fell to Profe. 'Tis ftrange, that what they made a God, 

 could not make z good Verfe, but not ftrange to fee the old Serpent 

 . adhering to its firfl Scheme of Politicks, by making the weaker 

 Veflel the Vehicle to convey his ftrong Delufions ro the World. 



Some of thefe Draconick Serpents excel in the Senfations of 

 Hearing and Seeing, as well as in the Art of Killing ; and therefore 

 a Dragofi was made the Confervator of their Treafures and Ciirio/i- 

 ties; e. g. Mauritania in Africa, was famous for the Gardens of the 

 Hejperides (fo called from three Siilers and Daughters of King 

 Hejperius) that produced Golden Apples, and were guarded by a 

 Dragon, which Hercules having killed or charm'd into a profound 

 Sleep, he robbed the Golden Orchard. 



The Rod of Mofes, 'tis faid, was turned into a Serpent. The 

 Syriack, Arabick, and Septuagint Tranflations, fay, twas turned in- 

 to a Dragon ; and fo the Rods of the Magicians became Dragons. 



XII. The Bafilisk or Cockatrice, is a Serpent of the Draconick 

 Line, the Property of Africa, fays Mlian, and denied by others : 

 In fhape, refembles a Cock, the Tail excepted. Authors differ 

 about its Extradlion ; the Egyptians fay, it fprirgs from the Egg 

 of the Bird Ibis ; and others, from the Eggs of a Cock : Other 

 Conjedures about its Defcent, being as ridiculous, I forbear to 

 mention them. Nor are they agreed whether it more inclines to 

 the black or yellow Colour ; nor are their Sentiments lefs various 

 about its Stature. 



I T is grofs in Body, of fiery Eyes, and fl>arp Head, on which 

 it wears a Crefl:, like a Cock's Comb ; and has the Honour to be 

 rtiled Regulus by the Latins, the Little King of Serpents ; and 'tis- 

 generally fuppofed to be terrible to them. The Sight of th1& 

 Animal, and Sound of his Voice, puts them to flight, and even.to 

 over-run their Prey* : Yea, Tradition adds, that his Eyes .ajad 

 Breath are killing j that is, I prefume, when he grafps ibe Spoil. 



Several 



* Sihilo ejus teliquoi terreii ^ pradam dsrcU.nquere. 



