516 THE SEA ELEPHANT. 
In order to prevent the whole herd from making a simultaneous charge at their 
invaders, the hunters endeavour to disperse them by means of dogs trained to the 
business, and so to secure the animals as they fly affrighted in various directions. One 
such chase is technically termed a “cut,” and if rightly conducted is so successful that at 
a single “cut” no less than fifteen hundred of these huge Seals have been taken. These 
chases take place at night. 
The movements of the Walrus when on land are of a very clumsy character, as might 
be supposed from the huge, unwieldy body of the animal, and the evident insufficiency of 
the limbs to urge the weighty body forward with any speed. When this creature is 
hurried or alarmed, it contrives to get over the ground at a pace that, although not very 
rapid, is yet wonderfully so when the size of the animal is taken into account. The 
movement is a mixture of jerks and leaps, and the Walrus is further aided in its progress 
by the tusks. Should it be attacked, and its retreat cut off, the Walrus advances fiercely 
upon its enemy, striking from side to side with its long tusks, and endeavouring to force a 
passage into the sea. If it should be successful in its attempt, it hurries to the water's 
edge, lowers its head, and rolls unceremoniously into the sea, where it is in comparative 
safety. 
The Walrus is possessed of the same docile and affectionate disposition as the other 
Seals, and has been more than once effectually tamed. One of these animals which was 
captured while young at Nova Zembla, and brought to England, was remarkably gentle 
in its demeanour, and learned many accomplishments from its owner. It had been so 
well instructed, that if taken in a boat, it would leap overboard at the word of command, 
chase and catch fish, and return to the boat bearing the fish in its mouth. 
The number of young which the Walrus produces at a litter is seldom if ever more 
than one, and when newly born, the little animal is about the size of a yearling pig. 
Winter is the usual time of year for the appearance of the young, and the mother always 
repairs to the shore or to the ice-fields for the purpose of nourishing her family. The 
maternal Walrus is very attentive to her charge, and while in the water is very solicitous 
about its welfare, carrying it about under her fore-limbs, and defending it from any danger 
that may arise, regardless of her own safety in watching over that of her offspring. 
When a mother Walrus is surprised upon the shore, she places her young one upon her 
back, and hurries away to the sea, bearing her precious burden. 
This animal attains to a very great size, so great, indeed, that its dimensions can 
hardly be appreciated except by ocular demonstration. A full-grown male Walrus is 
generally from twelve to fifteen feet in length, while there are many specimens that 
have been known to attain a still greater size. The skin is black and smooth, and is 
sparingly covered with brown hairs, which become more numerous on the feet. The eye 
is very small in proportion to the size of the animal, and after death sinks so completely 
into its socket that it cannot be seen except by an experienced observer. By pressure 
upon each side of the orbit, the eye suddenly starts forward, and becomes visible. 
The Walrus has once or twice been seen off the British coasts, but is so very rare a 
visitant that any such occurrences can only be considered as exceptional to the general 
rule. The term Walrus literally signifies “whale horse,” and the specific name, Rosmarus, 
is a Latinized form of the Norwegian word Rosmar, or “sea horse.” The word Morse is 
slightly altered from the Russian Morss, or the Lapponic Morsk. 
AnoTHER powerful and grotesque Seal now engages our attention. This is the 
ELEPHANT SEAL, or SHA ELEPHANT, so called not only on account of the strange 
prolongation of the nose, which bears some analogy to the proboscis of the elephant, but 
also on account of its elephantine size. Large specimens of this monstrous Seal measure 
as much as thirty feet in length, and fifteen or eighteen feet in circumference at the 
largest part of thei bodies. 
The colour of the Sea Elephant is rather variable, even in individuals of the same sex 
and age, but is generally as follows. The fur of the male is usually of a bluish-grey, 
which sometimes deepens into dark brown, while that of the female is darker, and 
variegated with sundry dapplings of a yellow hue. This animal is an inhabitant of the 
