58 ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 



seals in having the anterior limbs entirely at liberty, and not 

 at all enveloped by any integument. 



THE MORSE or WALRUS (Trichechus Eosmarus) is closely 

 allied to the seal in appearance, but chiefly distinguished 

 from it in size, (weighing from 1,500 to 2,000 Ibs.) It has 

 also two large canine teeth or tusks, measuring from ten to 

 twenty inches, directed downwards from the upper jaw, and 

 curved towards the body. These 

 are probably made use of by the 

 animal as an assistance in climbing 

 the ice, acting on the principle of a 

 hook, as well as in self-defence. 

 Scoresby relates an instance in 

 which two Walruses, when attacked, 

 attempted to destroy the boat containing their assailants, by 

 rising alongside and hooking their tusks over its sides, 

 evidently with the purpose of swamping it. Cuvier, in 

 speaking of its teeth says, " that it has a system altogether 

 peculiar, as it is not better adapted for bruising vegetable, 

 than for cutting animal food ; the teeth from their struc- 

 ture, must act like a pestle and mortar." When undisturbed 

 they are fearless and inoffensive, slow and clumsy on land, 

 but easy of motion in the water. They are found abundantly 

 on the coasts of Davis' Straits, and the Magdalen islands ; 

 individuals have been met with on Anticosti, which, as well 

 as one or two that are stated to have been seen on the 

 shores of the Lower St. Lawrence, probably were unwilling 

 visitors on some drifting iceberg. Their peculiar habitat 

 is the extreme northern coast of this continent. 



