As long as you keep your goggles on, Verity is okay with you examining the basilisks and the cockatrices. They may squawk and peck at you if you manhandle them, but suck it up, buttercup, it's for science.

She also has the raccoon and mole rat on display if you want to watch the course of petrifaction. The molerat's skin is already turning gray and the raccoon's fur is stone around its eyes and mouth.

Yes, it's macabre. But it's a good lesson (and on holograms.)