32 SEALS AND WHALES OF THE BRITLSH SEAS. 



as well as by the great size of the animal. In the skull the brain-case 

 is small, the nasal opening very large, and the grinders conical, only the 

 two hinder pair in the upper, and the last pair in the lower jaw, double- 

 rooted, the rest simple. Professor Bell, in his history of 'British Quad- 

 rupeds,' gives the generic and specific characters, as well as excellent figures 

 of the skulls of the various British Seals, which will be found most useful 

 in determining the species of any doubtful individuals ; other figures will be 

 found in Dr. Gray's * Catalogue of the Seals and Whales in the British 

 Museum.' 



THE WALRUS, OR MORSE. 



Of the many strange forms which the Zoological Society of London has 

 been the means of introducing to the stay-at-home naturalists of this country, 

 certainly not the least interesting is that of the Walrus [Trichechus rosmarus, 

 Linn.) It is true that in neither of the instances in which the young animal 

 has been brought alive to the Gardens, has it long survived in its new home ; 

 but, short though its residence amongst us, the opportunity has been afforded 

 to many of becoming acquainted with the Arctic stranger in propria persond, 

 instead of through the distorted medium of the badly-stuffed skins, or the 

 equally bad representations of this interesting animal, which, until recently, 

 we have possessed. The first recorded appearance of the Walrus in this 

 country was, I believe, in 1624, when, according to Hakluyt's ' Pilgrimes,' a 

 young one was brought to England by Master Thomas Welden, in the God- 

 speed, and duly presented at Court. In 1853 the Zoological Society became 

 possessed of a young one, which lived only a few days in their Gardens. 

 On the 1st of November, 1867, another was received, which lived till the 

 19th of December, when it unfortunately died, notwithstanding the care 



