King Richard's Storybook Dragon

      Dragons are known to have lived in the mythical lands, far beyond the sea. Although they look rather frightening and can even be dangerous when they're hungry, a good dragon (also called a "lucky" dragon in the Far East) can be a sign of good things to come.

      Some stories survive about brave knights and humble squires who have raised dragons after having stumbled across them when they were still in their eggs. Unfortunately, the proper conditions required for hatching a dragon's egg have never been recorded.

      It is important to note that a dragon cannot actually be tamed or trained, and you would never consider one to be a pet. However, it is possible to befriend them, in which case they are likely to behave remarkably well.

      Dragons generate large amounts of methane gas, which is ignited by a tiny symbiotic insect (not a dragonfly) which in turn depends on the dragon for heat. The record for the highest temperature ever created by a reptile, and the record for the highest temperature ever created by an insect, is shared by these two amazing creatures.

      Because a dragon needs his flame to roast his meat, he may go for long periods of time without eating while he waits for the dragonmite to emerge from the ground. This can take up to seventeen years. It is during these long dormant periods that dragons are the most vulnerable.

      Although dragons are protected from outright slaughter, the best way to slay a dragon is to use plenty of pesticides which kill the insects they depend on for their flame.

      If you can't find an egg, or if you don't have enough room to to make a nest for a dragon, then you can build one from paper and practice your dragonry in a more controlled environment.

      A pair of scissors and some regular white glue will be helpful, and the assembly instructions on the left will help you to see how it goes together.

      You should also get some help downloading and printing this model on your printer. If it doesn't come out quite right, then have no fear, because you can always print out another one and build it again until it comes out the way you want it to.