The Fabulous Cockatrice

The cockatrice, like the basilisk was one of the fabled monsters of antiquity. lts very look was fatal to lifij. It breathed fire, and on that account could only live in desert regions, where there was no dang-er of its flfiry exhalations consuming vegetatiou. Travelers who were forced to crosfl a desert formerly took with them a cock, whose crowinu, it wan believed, would kill all the cockatrices in hearing.