Bonnacon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bonnacon (also called the Bonacon or the Bonasus) is a mythical animal from Asia. It has curled horns and emits burning dung. The legend may be based on a type of bison in reality.

The animal was described by Pliny in his Naturalis Historia: "There are reports of a wild animal in Paionia called the bonasus, which has the mane of a horse, but in all other respects resembles a bull; its horns are curved back in such a manner as to be of no use for fighting, and it is said that because of this it saves itself by running away, meanwhile emitting a trail of dung that sometimes covers a distance of as much as three furlongs [604 m], contact with which scorches pursuers like a sort of fire."^[1]

The Bonnacon is also mentioned in The Aberdeen Bestiary. [1]

As a fantasy creature, the Bonnacon is often described as being a large four-legged dragon-like creature with turned-back horns and thick armour. It produces the same burning waste from its rear Pliny reported, along with similarly caustic breath, so that neither end is safe.[2]