Cockatrice

Cockatrice are vicious, lizard-like creatures that are known to guard the Forest of Balor. Their bite is highly venomous and means certain death.

History
Arthur killed a Cockatrice during his quest to retrieve a Mortaeus Flower from the Forest of Balor. He killed it to save the sorceress Nimueh, who was pretending to be a lost, runaway serving girl (The Poisoned Chalice).

Myth
A Cockatrice is a creature with the legs of a dragon and the head of a rooster. Its name comes from the word Cocatris, which means tracker.

According to legend, a Cockatrice's stare can turn people to stone and a weasel is the only creature immune to its powers. It is also said that it will die instantly if it ever hears a rooster crow, and that making a Cockatrice look at itself in a mirror is one of the only surefire ways to kill it.

The Cockatrice is also able to fly with the set of wings on its back and, like the head of Medusa, the Cockatrice's powers of were thought to be still active after death.