QUADRUPEDS. 
461 
The most famous among these fabulous ani- 
mals of the ancients was the unicorn. Its real ex- 
istence has been obstinately asserted even in the 
present day, or at least proofs of its existence have 
been eagerly sought for. Three several animals 
are frequently mentioned by the ancients as hav- 
ing only one horn placed on the middle of the 
forehead. The orya: of Africa, having cloven 
hoofs, the hair placed reversely to that of other 
animals,* its height equal to that of the built or 
even of the rhinoceros,? and said to resemble deer 
and goats in its form ; § the Indian ass, having 
solid hoofs ; and the monoceros, properly so called, 
whose feet are sometimes compared to those of 
the lion, ll and sometimes to those of the ele- 
phant, % and is therefore considered as having 
divided feet. The horse unicorn** and the bull 
unicorn are doubtless both referable to the Indian 
ass, for even the latter is described as having 
solid hoofs, tt We may therefore be fully as- 
sured that these animals have never really exist- 
* Aristot. Anim. II. 1. and III. 2.— Plin. XI. 46. 
t Herodot. IV. 192. 
f Oppian, Cyneg. II. vers. 551. 
§ Plin. VIII. 53. 
II Philostrog. III. ii. 
% Plin. VIII. 21. 
** Onesecrit. ap. Strab. lib. XV.— ^lian. Anim. XIII. 42. 
f f See Pliny and Solinus. 
