219 



THE WALRUS. 



Trichechus Rosmarus. LINN. 

 PLATE XX. 



Trichechus Rosmarus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I. 49 ; Desmar Mam- 

 mal. 253 ; Jenyns, Brit. Vert. Anim. 16 ; Bell, Brit. Quad. 

 285. 



THE Walrus, Morse, or Sea-Horse, an animal which 

 inhabits the arctic regions of both continents, very 

 seldom visits the coasts of Britain, among the 

 Mammalia of which country it can rank only as an 

 accidental straggler. It recals the idea of an over- 

 grown Seal, and attains a very large size, individuals 

 measuring twelve feet or more in length, with a 

 girth proportionally greater than is usually observed 

 in other members of this family. The head is of 

 moderate size, of a square form when viewed from 

 before, being deep and bulging in front, to afford a 

 suitable insertion to the enormous tusks; the upper 

 lip large, tumid, and divided into two lobes; the 

 mouth rather small, as are the nostrils and eyes ; 

 the orifices of the ears very small, without auricles. 



