178 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
in its movements ; but in the water its motions are easy and vigorous. Its geo- 
graphical distribution quite encircles the globe in that colder belt of the northern 
hemisphere, above the latitude of 45°, and but few individuals are met with south 
of 47° north. In Behring Sea they are found as far south as the shores of the 
peninsula of Alaska, and in the Pacific Ocean about several of the islands which 
fringe the central coast of Alaska Territory. They feed upon shell -fish and other 
submerged marine productions. The Walrus is gregarious, being sometimes found 
in herds upon the ice, and at the proper season the animals collect upon the 
beaches, or they clamber upon rocky islets in remote places. They are said to be 
monogamous, but we are of the opinion that they are not exclusively so. The sea- 
son when the sexes seek each other is in the last of the spring months, or the 
first of the summer. The time of gestation is about nine months. The mother 
and her offspring manifest a stronger mutual affection than we have observed in 
any other of the marine mammals ; and the cub seeks her protection, clinging to 
her back whenever there is cause for alarm,* and she will at all times place herself 
between the foe and her helpless charge. Frequently has she been known to clasp 
to her breast the terrified little one, embracing it with her fore flippers, while 
receiving mortal, wounds from the whaleman's lance. A male, and a female with 
her cub, are often seen together ; yet herds of old and young, of both sexes, are 
met with, both in the water and upon the ice. When undisturbed they are quite 
inoffensive, but if hotly pursued they make a fierce resistance ; their mode of attack 
is by hooking their tusks over the gunwales of the boats, which may overturn 
them, or they strike a blow through the planking, which has repeatedly been the 
means of staving and sinking them. Captain Lyon remarks: "Mr. Shirer described 
the fury of the wounded animals as being quite outrageous ; but those which were 
unhurt quickly forsook their suffering companions." There may have been instances 
of a combined attack of Walruses on besieging boats ; but like all other marine 
mammals which have been continuously pursued, they soon become wary, and when 
there is cause for alarm they give warning to their neighboring associates by loud 
* Captain T. W. "Williams, a 'whaling master a bowline was easily thrown over it, and the 
of much experience and observation, states, that bereaved creature taken on deck, when it instant- 
on one voyage to the Arctic Ocean, a female ly mounted its mother's back and there clung 
Walrus was captured two miles from the ship, with mournful solicitude, until forced by the 
and the young cub kept close to the boats that sailors to again return to the sea; but even 
were towing its dead mother to the vessel ; and then it remained in the vicinity of the ship, be- 
when arrived, made every effort to follow her as moaning the loss of its parent by uttering dis- 
she was being hoisted on board. A rope with tressful cries. 
