FABULOUS ANIMALS. 517 
winged serpents. It is a very ancient armorial bearing, 
and is now standing as supporter to the arms of several 
illustrious houses. 
THE COCKATRICE, OR BASILISK. 
THE fruitful imagination of man knows hardly any 
bounds. That which bears the name of Basilisk was origi- 
nally supposed to be a serpent, with a sort of comb or 
crown on its head : but that was not sufficiently marvel- 
lous. It was supposed also to be hatched from a cock's 
egg, upon which a snake had performed the duty of incu- 
bation ; and then no wonder if the animal, the result of 
this monstrous connexion, had the head of a cock, and the 
wings and tail of a dragon. Hatched near a spring of 
water, the common resort of serpents, it was asserted, that, 
frightened at his own extraordinary shape, he soon pre- 
cipitated himself to the bottom, whence by the mortal look 
from his fiery eyes, he had the power of killing whoever 
dared to gaze at him. The name of Cockatrice alludes to 
its heterogeneous origin ; and this animal is also found 
among ancient armorial devices. 
