ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 159 



nearly on top of the craniuin; the nasal apertures are literally so, 

 opening directly over the muzzle; they are oval, nnd closed ]5arallel 

 with the longitudinal axis of the skull, and when dilated are about an 

 inch in their greatest diameter. 



The tusks or canines are set firmly under the nostril apertures in 

 deep, massive, bony pockets, giving that strange, broad, square-cut 

 front of the muzzle so characteristic to the physiognomy. 



The upper lips of the walrus of Bering Sea are exceedingly thick 

 and gristly, and the bluff, square muzzle is studded in regular rows 

 and intervals with a hundred or so short, stubby, gray- white bristles, 

 varying in length from one-half to 3 inches. There are a few very 

 short and much softer bristles set also on the fairly hidden chin of the 

 lower jaw, which closes up under the projecting snout and muzzle 

 and is nearly concealed by the enormous tushes when laterally viewed. 



Peculiarities of the eyes. — The eyes are small, but prominent, 

 placed nearly on top of the head, and, iDrotruding from their sockets, 

 bulge like those of the lobster. The iris and pupil of this eye is less 

 than one-fourth of the exposed surface; the sclerotic coat swells out 

 from under the lids when they are opened, and is of a dirty, mottled, 

 coffee yellow and brown, with an occasional admixture of white; the 

 iris itself is light brown, with dark-brown rays and spots. I noticed 

 that whenever the animal aroused itself, instead of turning its head 

 it rolled its eyes about, seldom moving the cranium more than to ele- 

 vate it. The eyes seein to move, rotating in every direction when the 

 creature is startled, giving the face of this monster a very extraordi- 

 nary attraction, especially when studied by an artist. The expression 

 is just indescribable. The range of sight enjoyed by the walrus out 

 of watei-, I can testif}^, is not well developed, for after throwing small 

 chips of rock down upon the walruses near me, several of them not 

 being 10 feet distant, and causing them only to stupidly stare and give 

 vent to lov>^ grunts of astonishment, I then rose gently and silently to 

 my feet, standing boldly up before them; but then even I was not 

 noticed, though their eyes rolled all over from above to under me. 

 Had I, however, made a little noise, or had I been standing as far as 

 1,000 3'^ards away from them to the windward, they would have taken 

 the alarm instantly and tumbled off into the sea like so many hustled 

 wool sacks, for their sense of smell is of the keen keenest. 



Acute hearing. — The ears of the walrus, or rather the auricles to 

 the ears, are on the same lateral line at the top of the head with the 

 nostrils and eyes, the latter being just midway between. The pavil- 

 ion, or auricle, is a mere fleshy wrinkle or fold, not at all raised or 

 developed; and, from what I could see of the meatus externus, it was 

 very narrow and small. Still the natives assured me that the Oiariidce 

 had no better organs of hearing than "Morsjee." 



Loose setting of the tusks. — The head of the male walrus, to 

 which I have alluded, and from which I afterwards removed the skin, 

 was 18 inches long between the nostrils and the j)ost-occipital region; 

 and although the enormous tusks seemed to be so firmly planted in 

 their osseous sockets, judge of my astonishment w^hen one of the 

 younger natives flippantly struck a tusk with a wooden club quite 

 smartly, and then easily jerked the tooth forth. I had frequently 

 observed that it was difficult to keep the teeth from rattling out of 

 their alveoli in any of the best skulls I had gathered of the fur seals 

 and sea lions; especially difficult in the case of the latter. But again, 

 on this interesting subject of dentition, it is best that I refer to Dr. 

 Allen. Repetition of his admirable diagnosis is unnecessary here. 



