66 MAMMALS. 



characterises the rest of the family, a deficiency that 



is chiefly interesting by reason of its association with 



the flat skull and expressionless face. The 



• 'Tit ffrindinej teeth are without tubercles, 



intelligence. . . 



In colour this seal is grey, with numerous 

 small black markings. 



The Walrus, Morse, or Sea-Cow, has only been recorded 



in British waters on two or three occasions, yet, like a 



number of our birds, it is freely claimed as a 

 "Walrus. . . . . 



British subject. Its food consists largely of 



crustaceans. Its fierce disposition, the theme of so many 



travellers' tales, must be subject to moods, for Nansen 



tells of walruses so gentle that he had to strike them 



on the snout with his stick before they would move. 



Doubtless Nansen's walruses had not yet benefited by the 



educating influence of contact with man. The appearance 



of the walrus is certainly suggestive of ferocity, especially 



the long tusks and bristling moustache. 



CHAPTER IV. THE RODEXTS. 



This large and important group, of which four families 



are represented in our fauna, is easily distinguished from 



any other by the presence of a pair of curved 



enamelled incisors in either jaw. These teeth 



are ever growing and ever wearing down by friction. 



Cases are recorded in which, owing to either accident or 



malformation, one pair has grown unchecked into the 



opposite jaw, soon causing the death of the animal from 



starvation. These creatures are, from the 

 As vermin. n i - n i ^ 



nature of their food, among the worst enemies 



of the agriculturist and planter, the squirrel ring-barking 



