Fountains Abbey bestiary
ca. 1325–1350
England, probably North Yorkshire
227 x 152 mm
MS M.890, fols. 18v–19r
Gift of Alastair Bradley Martin, 1958
Left Page (Fol. 18v)
Sawfish: Here, the legendary flying sawfish lifts its immense wings to race a ship; when it is exhausted, it will retreat to the sea, representing Christians who start in good faith but are conquered by vice.