Compound Animals . 459 
“ The basilisk so poisons with the eye, 
To call for aid, and then to lie in wait.” 
(. England's Heroical Epistles.) 
The fatal effect of the glance of the basilisk could only 
be averted by holding in front of the creature a polished 
mirror. The terror of its own image caused its instant 
death. 
The basilisk combined the head and body of a cock 
with the tail of a serpent. A minute description of this 
creature and other fabulous animals may be found in any 
good work on heraldry. 
The Cockatrice added to the charms of the basilisk a 
dragon’s tail, armed with a sting. It shared 
with the basilisk the power of destroying by 
its glance. Sir Toby Belch says of the intending duel- 
lists, “ This will so fright them both that they will kill 
one another by the look, like cockatrices ” (Twelfth Night 9 
iii. 4, 214). 
Jidiet, distracted by her nurse, plays thus nicely with 
her words:— 
“ What devil are thou, that dost torment me thus ? 
This torture should he roar’d in dismal hell. 
Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but 4 1,’ 
And that bare vowel c 1 5 shall poison more 
Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice : 
I am not I, if there be such an I.” 
(.Borneo and Juliet , iii. 2, 43.) 
In art the cockatrice was an emblem of sin generally* 
and the special attribute of St. Yitus. 
The Wyvern was a more bird-like form of the dragon, 
having only two legs, an eagle’s head, and a 
. , , .-i Wyvern. 
scorpion s tail. 
The Fire-drake, or Fire-dragon, was a shining serpent 
that was supposed to guard hidden treasures. 
The name was also given to the luminous 
appearance known as “ will o’ the wisp.” 
