THE MYTH OF THE DRAGON.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9412, 5 April 1909, Page 2

THE MYTH OF THE DRAGON.

Professor Ray Lankester writes in the Daily Telegraph on the origin and authentic attributes of those nightmares of the nursery dragons. The mere mention of a dragon conjures up in our mind terrible visions of scaly, loathsome monsters, breath ing threateninga and slaughter out of their capacious maws; so the great scientist’s assurance that the only legitimate and complete dragon now-a-days is the Dragon of Heraldry, will be welcomed by any weaknerved person finding himself or herself alone, perhaps at night, in some secluded and awe-inspiring spot. Indeed, we owe a great debt to heraldry in that it has preserved for us, in these degenerate days, the true form, features, and attributes of the dreadful reptile Thus is the “official” monster drawn: a body as large as a lion and ten times as long, lizard-like and covered with scales, a crocodile head with the addition of a short, sharp horn on the nose, a pair of large pointed ears. His month is open, and from it protrudes a remarkable tongue, terminating in a weapon in the shape of an arrowhead ; his tail is long and snake-like and is thrown into coils. Four powerful limbs, like the claws and toes of an eagle ; a pair of wings.; and a crest of plates running from head to tail along the mid-line or his back (it is interesting to be informed that the only reptile resembling it in this respect is the New Zealand tuatara) complete the picture of the orthodox and only true dragon, in its component parts unlike any known animal or reptile. Other creatures which the artists’s brush is responsible for calling into being to terrorise us weak, credulous human beings are the griffin and the nnicorn; and the origin of the nnioorn is of especial interest.. This animal was in point of fact nothing more terrible than the familiar rhinoceros, converted by some artist either from fancy or ignorance, from the description given by a traveller, into the awfnl and death-dealing oreatnre which we see quartered in the Royal Arms. The dragon, likewise, claims a snake as its first ancestor, but owing to the terror and superstition with which the primitive tribes regarded the snake, it became in time transformed into the dragon. Yet the belief in these creations has given ns many beautiful stories, carvings, and pictures, having a child like sincerity and a concealed symbolism which give to the wondrous creatures charm and attractiveness, remarks the Professor and for this reason they will always remain of human value.