124 



CARNIVORES. 



seal is the only one found on the New Zealand coasts, and it also occurs at Chatham 

 Island and the Seal Rocks near Port Stephens. Although formerly abundant, it is 

 now becoming very rare. At the time of Flinders' visit in 1798 it was found in 

 thousands at Passage Point, to the north of Tasmania. The males are usually dark 

 grey above and brown below, while the lighter females are generally yellowish 

 brown above and dark below, some of them having a crest of long whitish hairs. 

 While the fur of the male is valuable and beautifully curled, that of the female 

 seems to have frequently but little under-fur, so that skins have been described as 

 those of hair-seals. 



The Walrus. 



Family TrichechidjE. 



The huge and ungainly animals, commonly known by the name of walrus 

 (from the Scandinavian valross, meaning whale-horse), constitute not only a 

 distinct genus of the Pinniped Carnivores, but are likewise the sole representatives 



SKELETON OF THE WALRUS. 



of a special family. Walruses are strictly confined at the present day to the Arctic 

 regions of both hemispheres ; but there is some difference of opinion as to whether 

 those found in the Pacific are specifically distinct from the typical Atlantic form. 

 The two are, however, so extremely closely allied that we prefer to regard them as 

 belonging to a single species (Trichechus rosmarus). 



In many respects the walrus is nearly allied to the eared seals, this being 

 especially shown in the structure of the hind-limbs. Thus the hind-feet are capable 

 of being turned forwards beneath the body, and are employed in locomotion on 

 land ; while they have the three middle digits much smaller than the outer pair. 

 Moreover, the toes of the hind-feet are similarly terminated by large lobes 

 projecting far beyond the extremities of the bones ; and the fore-limbs .are nearly 

 as large as the hinder ones. 



The walrus differs, however, from the eared seals in the total absence of 

 external ears, and also in its massive and clumsy build, as well as in the number 

 and structure of its teeth. Thus the front portion of the skull is greatly swollen, 

 and carries a pair of very long and laterally compressed tusks, or canine teeth, 



