Bestiaries

Bestiaries Europe
Collections of material on animals, usually legendary; a vogue in the Middle Ages. Most famous of the fabulous beasts was the Unicorn, a creature with a single horn and an admiration of virgins. Most deadly was the Cockatrice, also known as the Basilisk, a small serpent, scarcely six inches long. So venomous was its breath that the wretched creature dwelt in a self-created desert. Most amazing was the Asian Bonnacon, a beast with bull's head and a horse's body. So curved were its immense horns that it could not use them for defence. However, it was not devoid of protection, since when it ran away it discharged excreta on its pursuers. Over three acres could it cover with this fiery substance, dangerous to plants, animals, and men.

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