USES OF THE IVORY. 145 



been torn out of one of the planks, and the 

 hole was patched with sheet-lead. 



Walrus-tusks are composed of very hard, 

 dense, and white ivory. Their small size ren 

 dering them inapplicable for many ivory manu 

 factures, they do not command nearly the 

 price of elephant ivory, but they are in high 

 repute for the manufacture of false teeth, 

 and are also made into chessmen, umbrella- 

 handles, whistles, and other small articles. 



The upper lip of the walrus is thickly set 

 with strong, transparent, bristly hairs, about 

 six inches long, and as thick as a crow-quill ; 

 and this terrific moustache, together with his 

 long white tusks, and fierce-looking, blood 

 shot eyes, gives Rosmarus tricJiecus altoge 

 ther a most unearthly and demoniacal appear 

 ance as he rears his head above the waves. 

 I think it not unlikely that the old fable of the 

 mermaid may have been originated by their 

 grim resemblance to the head of a human 

 being when in this position. 



There is one very striking peculiarity con 

 nected with the osteological structure of the 

 walrus, which I do not recollect to have ob 

 served a mention of in any of the printed 

 accounts of the animal. I dare not amplify 



L 



