History of Monsters 421

per 1433, a cow gave birth to a two-headed calf; for the sake of the spectacle, this monster was pinned to the town gates for several days.

# V. A two-headed calf with heads joined at the back of the skull

According to the same author, another prodigious calf—this one also possessing two heads—was born in Krakow in 1499. We can substantiate this history with a similar monster born in our own region; for in 1506, a cow belonging to Signor Francesco Buccaferrei gave birth to a two-headed calf. In this case, the monster's two heads were joined at the back of the skull, according to a report graciously provided to us by the most excellent Montalbano.