78 
MAMMALIA. 
It passed from tlie apothecary’s laboratory to tbe naturalist’s 
collection, where it was long preserved under the name of horn 
or tusk of the Unicorn. 
In the fable of “Les oreilles du Lievre,” La Fontaine alludes to 
these superstitious notions. A Lion, wounded by a horned animal, 
issues a decree that every animal having horns be banished from 
his domain. A Hare perceiving the shadow of its own ears, and 
fearing that they would be taken for horns, is preparing to go 
into banishment. 
“Adieu, voisin Grillon,” dit-il; “ je pars d’ici ! 
Mes oreilles enfin seraient cornes aussi ; 
Et quand je les aurais plus courtes qu’une Autruche, 
Je craindrais meme encor.” Le Grillon repartit — 
“ Cornes cela ! Yous me prenez pour cruclie ! 
Ce sont oreilles que Dieu fit.” 
“ On les fera passer pour cornes,” 
Lit T animal craintif, “ et cornes de Licornes !”* 
The true nature of this tusk was shown for the first time by a 
naturalist of the Renaissance, one Wormius, who had found it 
affixed in its socket in a skull similar to that of a Whale. But it 
was not till 1671 that Frederick Martens gave a tolerably correct 
description of the Harwhal. These Cetaceans live in the neighbour- 
hood of Iceland, and in the seas which wash the shores of Greenland. 
They gather together in the creeks of the ice islands, and travel 
in bands. It would be very difficult to take them if they did not 
live in troops ; for, when isolated, they swim with such rapidity as 
to escape from all pursuit. But when they are near together they 
mutually embarrass each other, and are easily caught. When the 
fishing-boats glide cautiously in between their long files they 
close their ranks, and press against each other so much that they 
paralyze each other’s movements ; they become entangled in the 
tusks of those near them, or else, lifting their heads in the air, 
they rest their tusks on the backs of those which are in front of 
them. They can from that minute neither retreat, nor advance, 
* “ Adieu, neighbour Cricket,” said he ; “I depart hence ! 
My ears at last will he horns also ; 
And even if they were shorter than those of an Ostrich, 
I should still he afraid.” The Cricket answered — 
“ Those horns ! You must take me for a fool ! 
Those are ears which God has given you.” 
“ They will make them pass for horns,” 
Said tlie timid creature ; “ and for Unicorn's horns too /” 
