130 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 
his unwieldy body upon the ice-blocks and precipitous shores, 
where he loves to bask in the sun. Both animals use them, 
moreoyer, as formidable weapons, the former against the bound 
ing tiger, the latter against the hungry ice-bear or the voracious 
shark. 
In fine weather the walruses, like the seals, gather on the ise, 
where they may be seen in herds consisting occasionally of 
upwards of 100 animals each. In these situations they appear 
greatly to enjoy themselves, rolling and sporting about, and 
frequently making the air resound with their bellowing, which 
bears some resemblance to that of a bull. These diversions 
generally end in sleep, during which these wary animals appear 
always to take the precaution of having a sentinel to warn them 
of any danger to which they may be liable. So universal seems 
the observance of this precaution amongst their species, that 
Beechey, who had many opportunities of observing them in 
Spitzbergen, scarcely ever saw a herd, however small, in which 
he did not notice one of the party on the watch, stretching his 
long neck in the air every half-minute, to the utmost extent of 
its muscles, to survey the ground abcut him. In the event of 
any alarming appearances, the sentinel begins by seeking his 
own safety; and as these animals always lie huddled upon one 
another, the motion of one is immediately communicated to the 
whole group, which is instantly in motion towards the water. 
When the herd is large, and an alarm is given, the consequences 
are most ludicrous. From the unwieldy nature of the animals, 
the state of fear into which they are thrown, and their being so 
closely packed together, at first they tumble over one another, 
get angry, and in their endeavour to regain their feet flounder 
about in each other’s way, till having at last scrambled to the 
edge of the ice, they tumble into the water, head first, if possible, 
but otherwise, in any position in which chance may have placed 
them, occasioning one of the most laughable scenes it is possible 
to conceive. 
Though the first movement of the walruses at the approach 
of danger is to seek the water, yet here, enraged by an unpro- 
voked attack, they often become most formidable assailants; of 
which Beechey recounts a remarkable instance. 
One evening, while the Dorothea and Trent were at anchor 
in Magdalena Bay, Spitzbergen, several herds of these animals 
