Chap. III. CAPTAIN DAVID BUCHAN. 65 



company ? They could easily get one. A single 

 instance will suffice to show the care and affection 

 bestowed on their young. 



" We were greatly amused by the singular and affec- 

 tionate conduct of a walrus towards its young. In the vast 

 sheet of ice that surrounded the ships, there were occasion- 

 ally many pools ; and when the weather was clear and warm, 

 animals of various kinds would frequently rise and sport 

 about in them, or crawl from thence upon the ice to bask 

 in the warmth of the sun. A walrus rose in one of these 

 pools close to the ship, and finding every thing quiet, dived 

 down and brought up its young, which it held by its breast 

 by pressing it with its nipper. In this manner it moved 

 about the pool, keeping in an erect posture, and always 

 directing the face of the young toward the vessel. On the 

 slightest movement on board, the mother released her flipper, 

 and pushed the young one under water ; but when every 

 thing was again quiet, brought it up as before, and for a 

 length of time continued to play about in the pool, to the 

 great amusement of the seamen, who gave her credit for 

 abilities in tuition, which, though possessed of considerable 

 sagacity, she hardly merited." — pp. 80, 81. 



On the 28th of May the weather being foggy 

 and severe, with heavy falls of snow, the ships se- 

 parated ; and the Trent stood to the northward 

 towards Magdalena Bay, the place of rendezvous, 

 along the edge of the main body of ice ; they met 

 here, and seeing it impossible to penetrate the 

 marginal line of the ice, and the season being very 

 early, the commander determined on passing a few 

 days in that bay, in which they anchored on the 

 3rd of June. The ice was in the cove and upper 



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