CURIOUS CREATURES. 97 



its horn always supposing that it could be obtained 

 genuine, for there were horrid suspicions abroad that it 

 might be " the home of some other beast brent in the 

 fire, some certaine sweet odors being thereunto added, 

 and also imbrued in some delicious and aromaticall 

 perfume. Peradventure also, Bay by this means, first 

 burned, and afterwards quenched, or put out with cer- 

 taine sweet smelling liquors." To be of the proper 

 efficacy it should be taken new, but its power was best 

 shown in testing poisons, when it sweated, as did also a 

 stone called " the Serpent's tongue." And the proper 

 way to try whether it was genuine or not, was to give 

 Red Arsenic or Orpiment to two pigeons, and then 

 to let them drink of two samples ; if genuine, no harm 

 would result if adulterated, or false, the pigeons would 

 die. 



It was also considered a cure for Epilepsy, the Pes- 

 tilent Fever or Plague, Hydrophobia, Worms in the 

 intestines, Drunkenness, &c., &c., and it also made the 

 teeth clean and white ; in fact, it had so many virtues 

 that " no home should be without it." 



And all this about a Narwhal's horn ! 



THE RHINOCEROS. 



The true Unicorn is, of course, the Rhinoceros, and 

 this picture of it is as early an one as I can find, being 

 taken from Aldrovandus de Quad, A.D. 1521. Gesner 

 and Topsell both reproduce it, at later dates, but 

 reversed. The latter says that Gesner drew it from the 

 life at Lisbon but having Aldrovandus and the others 

 before me, I am bound to give the palm to the former, 



