SIBYLLINE BOOKS

In  European  bestiaries  and  legends, a  basilisk  from the  Greek, "little king;" Latin  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">Regulus <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> is a legendary <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">reptile <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">reputed to be king of <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black; background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">serpents <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">and said to have the power to cause <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">death <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">with a single glance. According to the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">Naturalis Historia <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">ofPliny the Elder, the basilisk of <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">Cyrene <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">is a small snake, "being not more than twelve fingers in length," <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">that is so <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">venomous <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">that it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its wake, and its gaze is likewise lethal; its weakness is in the odour of the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">weasel, which, according to Pliny, was thrown into the basilisk's hole, recognizable because all the surrounding shrubs and grass had been scorched by its presence. It is possible that the legend of the basilisk and its association with the weasel in <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">Europe <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">was inspired by accounts of certain species of Asiatic snakes (such as the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">King Cobra) and their natural predator, the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">mongoose

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">The basilisk is called "king" because it is reputed to have on its head a <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0645AD">mitre  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black; background:white">- or crown-shaped <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#0645AD">crest  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">. Stories of the basilisk show that it is not completely distinguished from the <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#0645AD">cockatrice  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">. The basilisk is alleged to be hatched by a <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#0645AD">cockerel  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black; background:white">from the egg of a <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#0645AD">serpent  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black; background:white">or <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black; background:white">toad <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black;background:white">(the reverse of the cockatrice, which was hatched from a cockerel's "egg" incubated by a serpent or toad). In <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0645AD">Medieval Europe  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black; background:white">, the description of the creature began taking on features from cockerels.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">One of the earliest accounts of the basilisk comes from <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Pliny the Elder  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">'s <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA">  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Natural History  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;background:white; mso-bidi-language:TA">, written in roughly 79 AD. He describes the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA">  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">catoblepas  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">, a monstrous cow-like creature of which "all who behold its eyes, fall dead upon the spot,"  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">[3] <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">and then goes on to say,

<p style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">"There is the same power also in the serpent called the basilisk. It is produced in the province of <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Cyrene  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">, being not more than twelve fingers in length. It has a white spot on the head, strongly resembling a sort of a diadem. When it hisses, all the other serpents fly from it: and it does not advance its body, like the others, by a succession of folds, but moves along upright and erect upon the middle. It destroys all shrubs, not only by its contact, but those even that it has breathed upon; it burns up all the grass too, and breaks the stones, so tremendous is its noxious influence. It was formerly a general belief that if a man on horseback killed one of these animals with a spear, the poison would run up the weapon and kill, not only the rider, but the horse as well. To this dreadful monster the crow of a rooster is fatal, a thing that has been tried with success, for kings have often desired to see its body when killed; so true is it that it has pleased Nature that there should be nothing without its antidote. The animal is thrown into the hole of the basilisk, which is easily known from the soil around it being infected. The weasel destroys the basilisk by its odour, but dies itself in this struggle of nature against its own self." <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">[4]THE_BASILISK_by_Jerome_K_Moore.jpg

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">Theophilus Presbyter <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">gives a long recipe in his book for creating a basilisk in order to convert <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">copper <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">into "Spanish <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">gold" (De auro hyspanico).

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">Albertus Magnus <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">in the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">De animalibus <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">wrote about the killing gaze of the basilisk, but he denied other legends, such as the rooster hatching the egg. He gave as source of those legends <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">Hermes Trismegistus, who is credited also as the creator of the story about the basilisk's ashes being able to convert <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">silverinto <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">gold: the attribution is absolutely incorrect, but it shows how the legends of the basilisk were already linked to <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">alchemy <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">in 13th century.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Geoffrey Chaucer <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">featured a <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">basilicok <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">(as he called it) in his <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA">  <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Canterbury Tales  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">. According to some legends, basilisks can be killed by hearing the crow of a rooster or gazing at itself through a mirror. <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">[5][6] <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">The latter method of killing the beast is featured in the legend of the basilisk of <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Warsaw  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">, killed by a man carrying a set of mirrors.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">Stories gradually added to the basilisk's deadly capabilities, such as describing it as a larger beast, capable of breathing fire and killing with the sound of its voice. Some writers even claimed that it could kill not only by touch, but also by touching something that is touching the victim, like a sword held in their hand. Also, some stories claim its breath is highly toxic and will cause death, usually immediately. The basilisk is also the guardian creature and traditional symbol of the Swiss city <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Basel  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">The basilisk was, however, believed to be vulnerable to cockerels; therefore travelers in the Middle Ages allegedly sometimes carried cockerels with them as protection.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Leonardo da Vinci <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">included a basilisk in his <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA">  <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Bestiary  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">, saying it is so utterly cruel that when it cannot kill animals by its baleful gaze, it turns upon herbs and plants, and fixing its gaze on them withers them up. In his Notebooks, he describes the basilisk, in an account clearly dependent directly or indirectly on Pliny's:

<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">This is found in the province of <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Cyrenaica  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">and is not more than 12 fingers long. It has on its head a white spot after the fashion of a <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">diadem. It scares all serpents with its whistling. It resembles a snake, but does not move by wriggling but from the centre forwards to the right. It is said that one of these, being killed with a spear by one who was on horse-back and its venom flowing on the spear, not only the man but the horse also died. It spoils the wheat and not only that which it touches, but where it breathes the grass dries and the stones are split.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:19.2pt;line-height:18.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">Then Leonardo says the following on the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">weasel  <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">: "This beast finding the lair of the basilisk kills it with the smell of its urine, and this smell, indeed, often kills the weasel itself."

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:19.2pt;line-height:18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#0645AD;mso-bidi-language:TA">Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-bidi-language:TA"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;background:white;mso-bidi-language:TA">wrote that the basilisk "is always, and cannot but be a male, as the more proper receptacle of venom and destructive qualities."