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Cockatrice — Description
The cockatrice (or the common cockatrice, to some), is a species of flightless bird that can be found in grasslands, savannas and forests. Of all the species found within the cockatrice family, this one is most plentiful and well known. It favors temperate climates and it can survive in a wide variety of habitats. Cockatrices are solitary in nature, only coming together during the breeding season. Many tend to see them as a nomadic species, but they seem to stay within large territories for most of their lives. Such areas are many leagues long and wide, and they wander all throughout the territory, giving the impression of a nomadic lifestyle. When it comes to their diet, cockatrices are opportunistic omnivores. They will eat small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, eggs of other species and any carrion they come across. They will also graze on seeds, shoots, fruits and berries, occasionally feeding on mushrooms and other fungi as well. While they do try to eat anything they stumble upon, cockatrices have some particular favorites. One is the flowers and berries of nightshade (also known as belladonna), and other plants that are related to that species. Toads and frogs are another favorite of theirs. The cockatrice will wander the banks of rivers and ponds, using their beaks to probe rocks and vegetation for these hiding amphibians. Another thing they love is carrion, as the moment they catch the scent of death, they will rush straight to the source. Their sharp beaks and talons help in tearing off chunks of rotting meat, which they swallow whole. To some, these three foods seem quite different from each other. Why a cockatrice would have a preference for these three may come off as a mystery. If you think about it, though, you may notice there is a theme that connects them. They all contain ingredients that help it make its famous weapon!

When dealing with predators or other threats, the cockatrice has a few options. In some cases, the cockatrice may choose to flee from its attacker, as this species can run as fast as a horse! Their long legs allow them to pick up some wicked speed, which they use to quickly vacate the area if some nasty beast comes after them. In other scenarios, the cockatrice may fight back with its talons and powerful limbs. Though scrawny looking, their legs can deliver some strong kicks, and the razor claws at the end of their feet can easily gut those foolish enough to challenge them. While these are some solid options, they are not the cockatrice's main choice when it comes to dealing with foes. Their preferred, and most powerful, weapon is what lies within their crop. To those who may not know, the crop of a bird is an expanded portion of their digestive system that is used to store food prior to digestion. For cockatrices, this crop is modified for long term storage, creating the bright red structure that you see at the base of their necks. This sac is where cockatrices store certain foods that they consume, mainly nightshade berries, amphibians and pieces of carrion. They also swallow stones to add to their crop, which they use to pulverize whatever is stored inside. While most of the food they consume is meant for digesting, the small bits they put in their crop is meant to breakdown and rot. As time goes on, the cockatrice's muscles and movements will mash and juice these morsels. This creates a foul soup that sits within the organic pouch, a stew made of the nastiest ingredients around! As you should know, nightshade berries are highly poisonous, as are certain frogs and toads. Rotting flesh is also quite vile, as it can contain diseases and other infectious things. Mix that all together into a foul sludge and you come out with one of the most toxic substances in the land, which is served up to those who mess with them. When a cockatrice perceives an approaching threat, it will whip its head forward and vomit a stream of this foul soup at the predator. Though it sounds crude or messy, the cockatrice has incredible accuracy and precision that allows it to strike foes in vulnerable areas. A face full of this gunk will deliver a cocktail of poisons, toxins and disease that can kill within minutes, hours or even days! While some may be immune to certain poisons, there are a dozen other vile things inside that stew that will leave you with a lethal infection. Predators dumb enough to attack them will receive a lethal dose of this soup, which makes sure that their final hours in this world is as painful and miserable as possible. Most carnivores have learned that cockatrices are not to be trifled with, at least while their crops are full. If one can force a cockatrice to deplete its toxic spit, then they have a chance to take them down. During these times, they will either fight back with sharp beak and claws, or high tail it out of there!

On the note of their poisonous vomit, some may wonder why I have not brought up their "lethal gazes." As legend says, the gaze of a cockatrice means instantaneous death, much like a Grand Basilisk. Basilisks and cockatrices are often lumped together, despite their clear differences, all under the theme of "deadly eyes." I neglected to mention this because cockatrices don't have this ability! The eyes of a cockatrice will not kill if you look into them, but I can tell you why people think that! Myth is often built on mis-observation and half truths, and the cockatrice's gaze is no different! You see, when a cockatrice spits its toxic soup at enemies, it often aims for parts of the body most vulnerable to infection. In almost every case, this is the face of the target. There are plenty of orifices and organs on the face that will readily absorb these poisons, making their spit more effective and deadly. One of the most vulnerable organs is the eyes of the victim! When this gunk hits the face, the eyes receive a whole slew of diseases and poisons, which leads to a nasty and lethal infection. Those who perish from their encounters with a cockatrice will often have a face that is bursting with infection and rot, with most of the damage centered around the eyes! With cockatrices being aggressive to those who get near them, looking them in the eyes is a sign of hostility, which guarantees a vomit spray being aimed at your face. So in the end, meeting the gaze of a cockatrice will indeed bring death, but just not the way you think!

Due to this deadly weapon of theirs, it is best to keep quite a distance between you and a cockatrice, especially during breeding season. Their hostility towards others reaches an absurd level, as they pick fights with others of their kinds, or things that look vaguely like them! Male cockatrices will hunt down a female, all while fending off her other suitors. In the end, the strongest of the bunch will succeed in driving off the others, giving the duo privacy to perform a ritualistic "dance." After fertilization and development, the female will lay two to four large, gray eggs. She will incubate them til hatching, while the male defends the area and wards off predators. When the young emerge, the male and female will continue to guard over them, teaching them what foods to eat to create their own deadly spit. When the young grow big enough and are capable of defending themselves, the male and female will depart and separate. It will be a few years until the two individuals join in the breeding season again.

While cockatrices gain notoriety for their deadly spit and aggressive nature, people have still found uses for them. One of the big things is the cockatrice's immunity to almost any disease and poison. While they have a foul diet, cockatrices are unaffected by deadly berries, toxic amphibians or necrotic flesh. Something in their bodies and bile helps ward off these poisons, which can be quite helpful to others! Cockatrice bile is one of the best disinfectants you can find, and their livers are used in a variety of antidotes and healing potions. Some even claim that eating the meat of a cockatrice can help weaken a sickness or dampen the effects of poison. Their eggs are consumed and the shells are ground up to be used in different medicines and brews. On a more superficial note, cockatrice feathers can be used for ornaments or decorations on garbs, while their hide is used for flexible leather. This has led to several people raising these birds as livestock, harvesting their meat, fluids, eggs and feathers to sell. Now you may think this is an extremely dangerous line of work, what with the toxic vomit and all, but that is not the case! You see, cockatrices rely on their diet to create this poisonous slurry, and if they don't have the right ingredients, they can't make it! So if a farmer raises a cockatrice on a steady diet of grain, mice, corn and chicken eggs, they won't be able to create this toxic spit. They will still vomit on you, that is true, but it won't be nearly as dangerous and deadly. With this in mind, some have domesticated these birds to serve as pets, racing birds and even guard animals! Their aggressive nature and sharp edges will keep coyotes and wolves away from other livestock, even if they can't spit their poison. Those that are domesticated lose a bit of their hostility towards human-shaped beings, but they replace this with curiosity and mischievousness. As opportunistic omnivores, they try to eat anything they come across. When they encounter you, they will prod and nip every square inch of you, as they look for anything to eat. Be careful what you have in your hands, on your person or in your pockets! If it is small enough to eat, they will try it. It is best not to carry anything like that when you are near them, as trying to stop them from eating your canteen will frustrate them and cause them to puke on you in retaliation. While seeing domesticated cockatrices is a fascinating thing, I do recommend you wear goggles and washable clothing.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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Here is my interpretation of a cockatrice, a fusion of a rooster, cassowary and a bit of vulture!