WALRUS, OR SEA-HORSE. 105 



a kind of webbed hand, are two-sevenths of the 

 whole length of the animal from the snout ; they 

 are from two to three feet in length, and being ex- 

 pansive, they can be stretched to a considerable 

 width. The hind-feet extend straight backwards, 

 and together form a sort of tail fin ; they are not, 

 however, united, but are quite distinct from each 

 other ; their length approximates to that of the fore- 

 paws, and the termination of all the fingers and 

 toes is marked by a small nail. 



The common dimensions of the Sea- Horse are 

 from twelve to fifteen feet in length, with a circum- 

 ference of eight or ten. Crantz states that it 

 reaches a magnitude of eighteen feet in length, and 

 nearly as much in circumference; and Baron Cuvier 

 states that it exceeds the bulk of the largest bulls, 

 and attains a length of twenty feet.* The length 

 of the tusks when cut out of the skull is commonly 

 from fifteen to twenty inches, though they are some- 

 times almost thirty; and their weight is from five 

 to ten pounds, though it is noted that they have 

 sometimes been found the double of this on the 

 shores of the Icy Sea. They are not only useful 

 to the animal in procuring its food, but also as a 

 weapon against its foes, of which the Bear on land, 

 and the Sword-fish at sea, are amongst the .most 

 nimble and fierce; they are also employed in enabling 

 the animal to raise its unwieldy bulk upon the ice, 

 when its access to the shore is prevented. 



Regne Animal, edit. 1829. 



