205 



BASILISK, 



lead-colour; a narrow, whitish stomach, coated, 

 or, as it were, enveloped in fat, and large intestines, 

 in which were discovered the berries and seeds of 

 certain aquatic shrubs, together with some small 

 semi transparent pebbles, and a kind of worms not 

 unlike millepedes. 



Of this curious Lizard a very fine specimen oc- 

 curs in the Museum of the late Mr. John Hunter. 



BASILISK. 



Lacerta Basiliscus. L. cauda tereti longa, pinna dorsali radiata, 



occipite cristato. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 2>66. 

 Long-tailed Lizard, with radiated dorsal and caudal fin, and 



pointed occipital crest. 

 Draco arboreus volans Americanus amphibius, sive Basiliscus* 



Seb. Mus. l.p. 156, 1. 100./. I. 

 The Basilisk. Nat. Misc.pl. 142. 



The Basilisk of the ancients, supposed to be 

 the most malignant of all poisonous animals, and 

 of which the very aspect was said to be fatal, is a 

 fabulous existence, to be found only in the repre- 

 sentations of painters and poets. Without citing 

 other descriptions, it may be sufficient to quote 

 that of Lucan, who, with true poetic licence, re- 

 presents the Basilisk exerting his terrific glance in 

 the burning deserts of Africa, and obliging the 

 rest of the poisonous tribe to preserve an humble 

 distance. 



" -Sibilaque effundens cunctas terrentia pestes. 

 Ante venena nocens, late sibi submovet omne 

 i - Vulgus, et in vacua regnat Basiliscus arena/' 



