Part 29 (1/2)

_The c.o.c.katrice._--The next variety is the c.o.c.katrice (Fig. 431), which is, however, comparatively rare. Two c.o.c.katrices are the supporters to the arms of the Earl of Westmeath, and also to the arms of Sir Edmund Charles Nugent, Bart. But the animal is not common as a charge. The difference between a wyvern and a c.o.c.katrice is that the latter has the head of a c.o.c.k subst.i.tuted for the dragon's head with which the wyvern is decorated. Like the c.o.c.k, the beak, comb, and wattles are often of another tincture, and the animal is then termed armed, combed, and wattled.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 431.--c.o.c.katrice.]

The c.o.c.katrice is sometimes termed a _basilisk_, and according to ancient writers the basilisk is produced from an egg laid by a nine-year-old c.o.c.k and hatched by a toad on a dunghill. Probably this is merely the expression of the intensified loathing which it was desired to typify. But the heraldic basilisk is stated to have its tail terminating in a dragon's head. In English heraldry, at any rate, I know of no such example.

_The Hydra_, or _Seven-headed Dragon_, as the crest, is ascribed to the families of Barret, Crespine, and Lownes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 432.--Camelopard.]

_The Camelopard_ (Fig. 432), which is nothing more or less than an ordinary giraffe, must be properly included amongst mythical animals, because the form and semblance of the giraffe was used to represent a mythical hybrid creation which the ancients believed to be begotten between a leopard and a camel. Possibly they represented the real giraffe (which they may have known), taking that to be a hybrid between the two animals stated. It occurs as the crest of several coats of arms for the name of Crisp.

_The Camelopardel_, which is another mythical animal fathered upon armory, is stated to be the same as the camelopard, but with the addition of two long horns curved backwards. I know of no instance in which it occurs.

The human face or figure conjoined to some other animal's body gives us a number of heraldic creatures, some of which play no inconsiderable part in armory.

The human figure (male) conjoined to the tail of a fish is known as the _Triton_ or _Merman_ (Fig. 433). Though there are some number of instances in which it occurs as a supporter, it is seldom met with as {228} a charge upon a s.h.i.+eld. It is, however, to be found in the arms of Otway, and is a.s.signed as a crest to the family of Tregent, and a family of Robertson, of London.

_The Mermaid_ (Fig. 434), is much more frequently met with. It is generally represented with the traditional mirror and comb in the hands. It will be found appearing, for example, in the arms of Ellis, of Glasfryn, co.

Monmouth. The crest of Mason, used without authority by the founder of Mason's College, led to its inclusion in the arms of the University of Birmingham. It will also be found as the crest of Rutherford and many other families.

_The Melusine, i.e._ a mermaid with two tails disposed on either side, though not unknown in British heraldry, is more frequent in German.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 433.--Merman.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 434.--Mermaid.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 435.--Sphinx.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 436.--Centaur.]

_The Sphinx_, of course originally derived from the Egyptian figure, has the body, legs, and tail of a lion conjoined to the b.r.e.a.s.t.s, head, and face of a woman (Fig. 435). As a charge it occurs in the arms of Cochrane and Cameron of Fa.s.siefern. This last-mentioned coat affords a striking example of the over-elaboration to be found in so many of the grants which owe their origin to the Peninsular War and the other ”fightings” in which England was engaged at the period. A winged sphinx is the crest of a family of the name of Asgile. Two sphinxes were granted as supporters to the late Sir Edward Malet, G.C.B.

_The Centaur_ (Fig. 436)--the familiar fabulous animal, half man, half horse--is sometimes represented carrying a bow and arrow, when it is called a ”sagittarius.” It is not infrequently met with in heraldry, though it is to be found more often in Continental than in English blazonry. In its ”sagittarius” form it is sculptured on a column in the Romanesque cloister of St. Aubin at Angers. It will be found as the crest of most families named Lambert, and it was one of the supporters of {229} Lord Hood of Avelon. It is also the crest of a family of Fletcher. A very curious crest was borne by a family of Lambert, and is to be seen on their monuments.

They could establish no official authority for their arms as used, and consequently obtained official authorisation in the early part of the eighteenth century, when the crest then granted was a regulation sagittarius, but up to that time, however, they had always used a ”female centaur” holding a rose in its dexter hand.

_Chimera._--This legendary animal happily does not figure in English heraldry, and but rarely abroad. It is described as having the head and breast of a woman, the forepaws of a lion, the body of a goat, the hind-legs of a griffin, and the tail of a dragon, and would be about as ugly and misbegotten a creature as can readily be imagined.

_The Man-Lion_ will be found referred to under the heading of lions, and Elvin mentions in addition the _Weir-Wolf, i.e._ the wolf with a human face and horns. Probably this creature has strayed into heraldic company by mistake. I know of no armorial use of it.

_The Satyr_, which has a well-established existence in other than heraldic sources of imagination, is composed of a demi-savage united to the hind-legs of a goat.

_The Satyral_ is a hybrid animal having the body of a lion and the face of an old man, with the horns of an antelope. I know of no instance of its use.

_The Harpy_--which is a curious creature consisting of the head, neck, and b.r.e.a.s.t.s of a woman conjoined to the wings and body of a vulture--is peculiarly German, though it does exist in the heraldry of this country.

The German name for it is the _Jungfraunadler_. The s.h.i.+eld of the Rietbergs, Princes of Ost-Friesland, is: ”Sable, a harpy crowned, and with wings displayed all proper, between four stars, two in chief and as many in base or.” The harpy will be found as a crest in this country.

_The Devil_ is not, as may be imagined, a favourite heraldic charge. The arms of Sissinks of Groningen, however, are: ”Or, a horned devil having six paws, the body terminating in the tail of a fish all gules.” The family of Bawde have for a crest: ”A satyr's head in profile sable, with wings to the side of the head or, the tongue hanging out of his mouth gules.” Though so blazoned, I feel sure it is really intended to represent a fiend. On the Garter Hall-plate of John de Grailly, Captal de Buch, the crest is a man's head with a.s.s's ears. This is, however, usually termed a Midas' head. A certain coat of arms which is given in the ”General Armory” under the name of Dannecourt, and also under the name of Morfyn or Murfyn, has for a crest: ”A blackamoor's head couped at the shoulders, habited paly of six ermine and ermines, pendents in his ears or, wreathed about the {230} forehead, with bat's wings to the head sable, expanded on each side.”