Revered for centuries as one of the most magical of all creatures, the unicorn is perhaps best known for its healing qualities. The touch of a unicorn will cure disease and purify liquids. For this reason, unicorns were hunted and slain. Cups, plates and utensils that could render poison harmless were carved from unicorn horns. Shoes and belts of unicorn hide cured fevers, and the ground-up liver of a unicorn was believed to heal leprosy. Even the powder of the horn was believed to cure a myriad of illnesses.
Named for the single, twisting horn on their brows, unicorns have' slender, deerlike bodies, long necks, and tails that end in a puff of fur. Unicorns are solitary creatures, each one staking out a large tract of land and meeting only for the purpose of mating.
Despite their beneficent nature, unicorns are formidable when cornered. They are exceedingly fast and their horns are very sharp, making them a match for lions and even dragons.
http://spiderwick.wikia.com/wiki/Griffin
The regal griffin (also spelled gryphon) is thought to be the offspring of an eagle (king of the sky) and a lion (king of all beasts). Its plumage ranges from cream to deep brown, yet some specimens have feathers with a deep, dark bluish sheen.
While many griffins migrated to Europe from the Middle East in the thirteenth century, most remain desert-dwelling. They roost in high places and are only likely to be spotted when they fly in search of food. Their bones are more commonly discovered, although they are often mistaken for the bones of dinosaurs.
The adult griffin is about the size of a bus. Despite their formidable natural advantages, griffins are very rare. Unlike less fantastical hybrids like mules, however, they can reproduce. Their eggs are said to be made of agate.
Griffins are resistant to the poison of dragons and very hostile to horses. For this reason, the offspring of a griffin and a horse — the hippogriff — is considered to be a symbol of the enduring power of love.
