Albertus Magnus [ca. 1200-1280 CE] (De animalibus, Book 25, 3; 25, 4): [Book 25, 3] Armene is a most dangerous snake, rivaled only by the king snake [basilisk]. Its potentiality for harm is in no wise different from the king snake, for it kills with its gaze and the sound of its hissing, like the king. Whatever animal it bites, succumbs immediately and dies; in fact, every animal that approaches it dies, even without being bitten by it. Varying from one to one and a half cubits in length, it is somewhat larger than the king snake. There is no cure whatsoever for its bite. [Book 25, 4] Asylus ... attains a length of of up to two cubits and has a yellowish-grey coloration. It kills its prey in less time than it takes to return to its den. A person bitten by this snake becomes senseless, ceases all movement and lapses into a coma... This snake raises its head and spews venom. The site of its bite is a tiny hole like a needle prick, which drips a small amount of black blood without forming an abscess. Shortly after the bite, the victim's eyes glaze over and he complains of crampy pains in his abdominal viscera and at the upper part of his stomach; later his eyes close; he slips into a profound sleep; and he does not survive beyond the third hour from the bite. - [Scanlan]