68 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



the extermination of the walrus meant the exter- 

 mination of the natives. Far out on the ice the 

 whaling crews were destroying in thousands the only 

 food of the starving inhabitants. Half of the people 

 of Lawrence Island and one third of the population 

 south of St. Lawrence Bay died from sheer famine ; 

 despairing mothers took their emaciated children to 

 the burying ground, and either strangled them or 

 left them to die of cold. Surely in all the grim 

 history of Polar voyaging the red Arctic sun has 

 looked down upon no sadder tragedy ! 



In concluding this almost obituary notice of the 

 Pacific walrus, it is pleasant to recall that, in one spot 

 at any rate, the species receives but little molestation. 

 Walrus Island one of the Pribylov group is a lava 

 rock off the coast of Alaska, less than a quarter of a 

 mile long, and but a few hundred yards wide less 

 than five acres in extent yet here several hundred 

 walrus lie closely packed on the inclement basalt, 

 their breath rising like a sea fog in the icy air. 

 Amongst themselves, the walrus are said to be 

 almost good-tempered, blows being given and 

 received with perfect amiability ; this is well, since 

 in quarrelling the animals might, like the American 

 travelling by railway in England, run right off the 

 tiny little island ! Once a year only in June and 

 July is this sanctuary disturbed ; the natives, laden 

 with tubs and baskets, visit this rock to collect the 

 eggs of the Lomvia arra. 



