452 A WALKUS-HUNT 



was, some few years ago, exhibited in London, and even- 

 tually, I believe, found its way to the Zoological Gardens. 

 Bser mentions having seen one in St. Petersburg that 

 was fed on oat-grit porridge, in which were inserted slices 

 of yellow turnips and other vegetables; and Edward 

 Worst, that " he saw one in England which was three 

 months old, that had been brought from Nova Zembla. 

 Every day it was put into water for a short time, but it 

 always seemed happy to return to dry ground. It was 

 about the size of a calf, and could open and shut its 

 nostrils at pleasure. It grunted like a wild boar, and 

 sometimes cried with a strong, deejD voice. It was fed 

 with wild oats or millet, which it rather sucked in than 

 masticated. It was not without difficulty that it ap- 

 proached its master, but it attempted to follow him, 

 especially when it had the prospect of receiving nourish- 

 ment at his hands." 



The chase of the walrus, which is of great antiquity, 

 is conducted both by sea and land, the weapons used con- 

 sisting, for the most part, of the harpoon and the lance. 

 Guns, unless loaded witli small shot to blind the animal, are 

 not found very destructive, as, owing to the thickness and 

 toughness of the hide, and the mass of blubber, even a 

 rifle-ball takes but little eflfect. 



On land the destruction of the walrus must, at times, 

 be great. " After the herd has made some little advance 

 from the sea," says Lord Shuldham, when speaking of 

 the Magdalen Islands, " the hunters, armed with a sharp 

 spear, under cover of the night, and with the assistance 

 of good dogs trained for the purpose, endeavour to disperse 

 them. This attack in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is called 

 a ' cut,' and is in general looked upon as a most dan- 

 gerous adventure, it being impossible to drive them as 

 you will, and difficult to avoid them ; but as, during the 

 darkness, they do not know their way to the sea, many 



