UNNATURAL NATURAL HISTORY 49 
able story concerning the creature, stating:— 
“ They say the basilisk is born of a cock. 
The cock, when decrepit, brings forth an egg 
from which the basilisk springs. The egg 
must be placed in a warm heap of dung or 
hatching done by a repulsive toad. Then a 
chicken is hatched, which has a tail like a 
snake, but the rest of its body that of a cock.” 
The egg was said to have no shell, but to have 
a skin of such strength that it could withstand 
the severest blow. Another description of 
the basilisk represents it as possessing eight 
feet and two enormous scales for wings, 
while its head was surmounted with a 
“ Kingly crown.” In spite of the alarming 
appearance of the creature, we read that it 
would fly from the presence of a weasel or 
cock. 
The phoenix was another fabulous creature 
stated to exist in the days of our ancestors. 
It was reported to be a bird of enormous size, 
and the only individual in existence. The 
manner in which it managed to assure the 
continuity of its species was to reappear 
from its own ashes. That its span of life was 
supposed to be of considerable length may be 
judged by the writings of Pliny, who stated 
that it lived for 660 years. Herodotus, how¬ 
ever, considered that 540 years was the limit, 
