DRACO, the Dragon, in zoology, a genus belonging
ing to the order of amphibia reptilia; the characters of which are these: it has four legs, a cylindrical tail, and two membranaceous wings, radiated like the fins of a fish, by which he is enabled to fly, but not to any great distance at a time. There are two species. 1. The volant, or flying dragon, with the wings entirely distinct from the fore-legs. It is found in Africa and the East Indies. 2. The prepos, with the wings fixed to the fore-legs. It is a native of America. They are both harmless creatures; and feed upon flies, ants, and small insects.
Draco Volans, in meteorology, a fiery exhalation, frequent in marshy and cold countries.
It is most common in summer; and though principally seen playing near the banks of rivers, or in boggy places, yet sometimes mounts up to a considerable height in the air, to the no small terror of the amazed beholders: its appearance being that of an oblong, sometimes roundish, fiery body, with a long tail. It is entirely harmless, frequently flicking to the hands and cloaths of people without injuring them in the least.