Aspidochelone, or Shield-Turtle (from Physiologus)

 

Վասն վահանակրէի

Բարոյախաւսն ասէ. է գազան ինչ ի ծովու, որ կոչի վահանակրեայ. Վիշապաձկան նման է. յաւազին տեղի է կղզի. ձայն նորա չարաձայն գազանի։ Եւ չգիտելով նաւորդացն երթան իբրեւ ի կղզի. անդր հասեալք ցիցս հարկանեն եւ զխարիսխն ընկենուն. եւ յորժամ կրակ դնեն ի վերայ՝ ջենու տեղին, եւ ընդ ունջ գնայ եւ յանդունդս տանի գբազում նաւս, որ ի նմա կապեալ կայցէ. եւ ընկղմէ։՝ Եւ այլ ինչ բնական բարս ունի. յորժամ քաղցնու, բանայ զբերանն եւ հոտ անուշից բուրէ ի բերանոյն. եւ առնուն զհոտն ձկունքն եւ երթան մտանեն ի բերանն. եւ յորժամ լնու բերանն. ածէ յիրեար զռունգսն եւ կլանէ զմանր ձկունս։

Aspidochelone, or Shield-Turtle

Physiologus informs us that there is a beast in the sea called the shield-turtle, which resembles the dragon-fish. It appears as an island, covered with sand. It has the sound of a wicked beast. Sailors, unknowingly, head toward this "island," driving in stakes and [securing themselves] with anchors. They light a fire on it, the spot becomes warm, and [the shield-turtle] descends below the surface of the water, taking along many ships, and drowning them.  [The shield-turtle] has another natural habit: when it opens its mouth, an aromatic fragrance issues from it. Fish get a whiff of this and go to enter its mouth. Then [the shield-turtle] clamps its nostrils together, and swallows the fish.

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