THE WALRUS, OR MORSE. 515 
Tn order to accommodate itself to the position of the huge tusks, the lower jaw narrows 
rapidly towards its point, so as to pass easily between the canines. The food of the Walrus 
consists of small Seals, fish, shrimps, and various other animal substances, diversified with 
such vegetable diet as the sea can afford. It has been suggested that one object of the 
large tusks may be to drag the alge from their hold upon the rocks. 
A Walrus is a valuable animal, for even in this country its skin, teeth, and oil are in 
much request, while among the Esquimaux its body furnishes them with almost every 
article in common use. Among civilized men, the skin of the Walrus is employed for 
harness and other similar purposes where a thick and tough hide is required. The tooth 
furnishes very good ivory, of a beautiful texture, and possessing the advantage of retaining 
the white hue longer than i ivory which is made from the elephant tusk. The ‘oil is delicate, 
but there is very little to be obtained from each W alrus, the layer of fatty matter being 
scarcely more than a hand’s-breadth in thickness. Among the Esquimaux the Walrus is 
put to a variety of uses. Fish-hooks are made from its tusks, its intestines are twisted into 
nets, its oil and flesh is eaten, and its bones and skin are also turned to account by these 
rude but i ingenious Workmen. 
In former days, the chase of the Walrus was an easy matter, for the powerful brutes 
seemed to be so satisfied of their strength 
that they would permit their assailants to 
approach them closely, and to inflict fatal 
wounds without any opposition, Now, how- 
ever, they have learned caution by many 
a bitter experience, and are extremely 
wary animals. They are tenacious of life, 
and dangerous antagonists, for although 
they seldom, if ever, commence an attack, 
they are most furious when opposed or 
wounded, and fight with marvellous 
energy. In the conflict the enormous 
tusks prove themselves to be truly for- 
midable weapons, and have been known 
to pierce through the plankings of a boat. 
Even the polar bear stands in awe of these 
weapons, and has often been beaten off 
by an old Walrus on whom it had hoped 
to make a ineal. 
The Walrus is found in vast herds, 
which frequent the coasts of the arctic 
and antarctic regions, and which conere- 
gate in such numbers that their united SKULL OF WALRUS 
roarings have often given timely warning 
to fog-bewildered sailors, and acquainted 
them ~ with the near proximity of shore. These herds present a curious sight, as the buge, 
clumsy animals are ever in movement, rolling and tumbling over each other in a strange 
fashion, and constantly uttering their hoarse bellowi ings. 
As soon as a Walrus gets ‘out of the w ater, it lies down on the shore and would not 
of its own free will stir from the spot on which it had first laid itself to repose. But 
another Walrus soon emerges from the sea, and as it cannot very well climb over its 
comrade, begins to butt him until he moves farther on, and makes room for the new comer. 
Others land in rapid succession, and the whole strand is soon full of life, for these unre- 
flective creatures never think of taking a short walk inland, so as to secure a quiet berth at 
ease, but must needs le down where they land, although they are sure to be disturbed by 
their comrades as they rise out of the sea. AS many as seven thousand have been seen 
in a single herd, so that to attack one of these assemblies is no shght matter, for as soon 
as they take alarm, they all come scuttling towards the sea, tumbling over each other in 
their haste, and presenting a formidable front simply by the weight of ‘their huge bodies. 
LL 2 
