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HISTORY

OF

WONDERFUL FISHES.

THE SEA UNICORN.

THIS immense fish, which is found in the Northern Seas, measures from 20 to 30 feet in length, exclusive of the weapon or horn in front of its head, which is from five to eight feet long. Sometimes the animal has two weapons. The head is small in proportion to the size of the body, and the fins are also small; there is not any fin on the back. The skin is white, variegated with numerous black spots, on the upper part of the body.

Such are the size and bulk, and so powerful are the muscles of these animals, that they

are able in their own element, to move, in all directions, with astonishing velocity. The weapon, which projects sometimes to the length of six or eight feet, from their upper jaw, is one of the most formidable that can be imagined; it is as straight as an arrow; about the thickness of the small of a man's leg, wreathed in mau ner we sometimes see twisted bars of iron; it tapers to a sharp point, and is whiter, heavier, and harder than ivory. When urged with all their force, it will penetrate even into the solid timbers of a ship; and the body of no animal whatever is sufficiently hard to resist its effects. This weapon is not a horn, but is a species of tusk, in its substance not greatly unlike the tusks of the elephant. As ivory, it is, however, much more valuable than these, from the circumstances of its being harder, and capable of receiving a much higher polish. Notwithstanding all these appointments for combat, these long and pointed tusks, amazing strength, and unequalled swiftness, the Sea Unicorn is one of the most harmless and peaceable inhabitants of the ocean; it is seen constantly and inoffensively sporting among the other great monsters of the deep, no way attempting to injure them, but pleased in their company. Wherever it is seen, the Whale is shortly after seen to follow.

The detached weapons of Sea Unicorns are considered, by many of the curious, to be the horns of that generally esteemed fa

bulous quadruped, the Unicorn.

These have. occasionally been found broken short off, and deeply buried in the keels and bottoms of vessels; and even in the bodies of some of the largest species of Whales, which either accident or design may have led the Sea Unicorn to plunge against.

The principal food of the Sea Unicorn consists of small fish, and a species of soft jelly-like animal called cuttle-fish: the horny jaws of the latter have sometimes been found in their stomachs in immense quantity. They usually swim in troops; and are found in most parts of the Northern Ocean. The Greenlanders pursue and kill them on account of their oil, for domestic uses; they use their flesh for food, and their teeth as articles of traffic. Whenever they are attacked, they crowd together in such a manner, that they are mutually embarrassed by their tusks or horns. By these, they are often locked together, and are prevented from sinking to the bottom. It seldom happens, therefore, but the fishermen make sure of one or two of the hindmost, which very well reward their trouble.

An individual of this species, twenty-five feet in length, was stranded near Freistone in Boston deeps, Lincolnshire, in England, in the month of February, 1800; and another, about 18 feet in length, was cast ashore and taken alive, not far from Boston, a few years before. B

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