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THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
they make a natural transition from the fishes, and because they were for so long 
a time confounded with the fishes. 
The Narwhal, or Sea Unicorn, is remarkable for its horn of twisted ivory. 
This springs from the upper jaw, is used as a weapon, or as an implement for 
digging, etc,, and has played no unimportant part on occasions when the nar¬ 
whal has vented its wrath upon vessels. 
The narwhal is greatly esteemed, for, independent of its own value, it is 
regarded as the avaut-courier of the whale. The ivory of its tusk is valued 
and put to many uses, among which may be mentioned the manufacture of 
lances used in killing narwhals. It descends but a little way into the sea, and 
after rising to the surface is so exhausted as 
easily to fall a victim to the fisherman. Schools 
of narwhals will surround a vessel, and remain 
patiently until slain for their oil and their ivory. 
The one-tusked narwhal, or sea unicorn, is 
the subject of many an antique fable, and later 
it was supposed to possess the power of ren¬ 
dering poisons innocuous by the mere insertion 
of its tusk or horn. There was a period when 
there lurked within the chalice not merely the 
poison of wine, but poisons added by ambitious 
or vindictive men and women. The story of 
Roman and Italian politics is rendered exciting 
by tales of poisoning effected usually under the 
guise of hospitality and good cheer. Hence it 
is not surprising that the unicorn's horn com¬ 
manded enormous prices, and was in great 
request by those who could afford its purchase. 
It may even be a relief to know that in spite 
of Tennyson’s protests against “ these days of 
the men of mind,” the adulteration of this anti¬ 
dote, or its conversion into “ a poisoned poi¬ 
son,” was neither unknown nor uncommon. 
The appearance of the unicorn in Great Brit¬ 
ain’s coat-of-arms is undoubtedly due to a belief 
that the unicorn was useful as a friend and 
dangerous as an enemy. The exact office of the 
narwhal's tusk is not certainly known; it is 
mud-fish ( Lepidosiren paradoxa). supposed to use it as a means of effecting a 
landing and in its contests with the Greenland 
whale. It has been known to drive its tusk through the metallic sheathing and 
stout timbers of large vessels, but it is supposed that this was done not with 
any malice toward the ship, but from a frenzied irritation and possibly an un¬ 
intentional collision. 
The Bay Porpoise (. Phoccena somerina) is a familiar sight on the Pacific 
coast, as it prefers bays and harbors and is quite fearless. 
The Atlantic Porpoise (. Phoccena communis) is a familiar sight to the sea¬ 
going travellers, and even to the thousands who daily pass up and down; they 
are neither strange nor without interest. 
