FLYING DRAGON. 
41 
only heard of the animal, might suppose to be a 
dragon. The most notable instance of this kind of 
deception was practised in Holland some years ago, 
when a Hamburgh merchant professed to have a 
real dragon in his possession, which he valued at 
10,000 florins. The deception, however, was found 
out by Linnaeus, who declared it to be an ingenious 
combination of the skins of snakes, teeth of weasels, 
claws of birds, &c. It appears that the merchant 
was so enraged at the discovery, that he threatened 
to prosecute the naturalist for injuring his property, 
who, to avoid his wrath, thought proper to leave 
Hamburgh. Seba has given a figure of this cu- 
riosity, which, however, he does not pretend to say 
was ever in existence. 
