202 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



jaw, which sweep with a gentle curve perpendicularly 

 downward. The nostrils, in consequence of the deve- 

 lopment of those imbedded in the maxillary bones, are 

 thrown upwards, so as to open considerably above the 

 muzzle with a vertical aspect. The eyes are small, but 

 brilliant ; the orifices of the ears are placed very far 

 backwards on the head ; the neck is short and thick ; the 

 chest of great volume ; the tail short; the body thinly 

 clothed with short stiff brownish hair ; the hinder pad- 

 dles are large. In length the walrus attains to fifteen or 

 sixteen feet, and its body not only yields abundance of 

 oil, but its skin is highly valued for its toughness and 

 durability. The tusks of this animal, which remind us 

 of those of the elephant, are instruments both of defence 

 and of progression ; by their aid it assists itself in clam- 

 bering up floating icebergs, or in traversing the fields of 

 ice along the shore, to which it resorts both to rest and 

 breed. It uses them also with great effect in defending 

 itself from the attacks of the polar bear, which may be 

 regarded as its most formidable adversary, and with 

 which it often engages in bloody conflicts. But there is 

 also another use to which these tusks are destined : the 

 walrus feeds to a great extent on a species of marine ve- 

 getable, the fucus digitatus, and these instruments are 

 admirably calculated for tearing up the long wreaths of 

 seaweed fast rooted in the bed of the ocean. Besides 

 this vegetable, they also feed upon other aliment ; Mr. 

 Scoresby found in their stomachs shrimps, a kind of 

 crayfish, and the remains of young seals. They are 

 probably omnivorous. (Fig. 138.) 



The walrus, like the seal, is gregarious in its habits, 

 and is often observed in vast flocks reposing upon the 

 ice, or upon rocky islands or sand-banks ; on these oc- 

 casions some appear to act as sentinels, and give notice 

 of the approach of an enemy ; their voice is a loud roar 

 or bray, and may be heard at a considerable distance : 

 Captain Cook observes that in the night or in foggy 

 weather, the roaring of the walruses gave notice of 

 the vicinity of the ice before it could be seen. When 

 attacked or fired at, the whole troop rushes tumultuously 



