96 HABITS OF THE WALRUS. 



get upon every piece of ice that came in her 

 way. The male, however, as if aware of the 

 danger of another attack in such situations, 

 always counteracted these efforts by pulling her 

 back with his tusks ; but, nevertheless, appeared 

 determined to secure her escape by buoying her 

 up in the water, and by propelling her forward 

 until she was beyond our reach. We observed 

 many similar acts of compassion in these ani- 

 mals towards their wounded companions; and 

 on one occasion, in particular, when several 

 walruses were attacked upon a beach near Mag- 

 dalena Bay. The first discharge of muskets drove 

 all those which could crawl, into the sea, but 

 immediately upon their panic subsiding they re- 

 turned to the shore and dragged their wounded 

 companions into the water, either by main force, 

 or by rolling them over with their tusks. 



This compassionate conduct towards the 

 maimed has been mistaken by seamen, and has 

 given rise to a belief, that these animals, like 

 the porpoises, cannot endure the sight of blood, 

 and chace and worry the wounded to death ; 

 but I have not the smallest doubt myself, that 

 it is an act of compassion alone, exercised for 

 the purposes I have already mentioned, arising 

 from an extraordinary instinct peculiar to 

 themselves, as we have in several instances 



