93 CARNIVORA. 



This animal resembles the seal in its general conformation, but is 

 much larger, and more thick and clumsy in its proportions. Its 

 distinguishing peculiarity is the construction of the skull. The 

 lower jaw is without incisor and canine teeth, and is compressed 

 laterally to fit in between two enormous canine teeth, or tusks, 

 which arise out of the upper jaw, and are inclined downwards 

 with a gentle curve. The length of the tusks is sometimes two 

 feet. The alveoli, or sockets of these tusks, occupy the whole 

 of the front portion of the upper jaw, and give a roundness to 

 the form of the muzzle ; the nostrils do not end in a snout, but 

 are far above the mouth, or what seems the middle of the face. 

 The development of the brain is less in the Walrus, than in the 

 seal, and it shows less intelligence. The ears are merely two 

 small orifices ; the head is small in proportion to the bulk of the 

 body; the neck short; the lips are thick, the upper one divided 

 by a longitudinal furrow, and studded with strong bristles ; the 

 skin is very thick and impenetrable, and covered with smooth, 

 yellowish hair. This huge animal is often eighteen or twenty 

 feet in length, and ten or twelve in circumference, around the 

 chest. 



The Walrus is found in the icy seas of the north. Like the 

 seal it is gregarious. It is not a ferocious animal, but on account 

 of its great strength, and formidable tusks, is dangerous when 

 attacked ; and the more dangerous because many hasten to the 

 help of a companion when in trouble. They are said to be mo- 

 nogamous. The females defend their young with great resolu 

 tion and perseverance. These animals resort to islands of ice, 

 or the ice-bound shore. The tusks furnished them by the Crea 

 tor, assist them to mount the slippery acclivities, or ledges of ice, 

 they striking the points of the tusks into the glassy surface in 

 order to secure themselves firmly, and drawing up their unwieldy 

 bodies. It is said their hind feet are furnished with suckers, 

 which act on the principle of cupping glasses, exhausted of air, 

 so that the feet adhere to the ice, and thus help the animals to 

 propel themselves forward. Thus the Walrus can climb the ice 

 berg with security, pass over its surface and betake itself at 

 pleasure to the waters of the ocean. 



Captain Cook, in his Journal of his Voyages, speaks of meet 

 ing with Walruses off the northern coast of America. &quot;They 

 lie,&quot; says he, &quot;in herds of many hundreds, upon the ice, hud 

 dling over one another like swine, and roar and bray so very 

 loud that in the night, or in foggy weather, they gave us notice 

 of the vicinity of ice before we could see it. We never found 

 the whole herd asleep, some being always on the watch. These, 



