412 THE WALRUS, OR MORSE. 



As soon as a Walrus gets out of the water, it lies down on the shore, and would not of 

 its own free will stir from the spot on which it had first laid itself to repose. But another 

 Walrus soon emerges from the sea, and as it cannot very well climb over its comrade, 

 begins to butt him until he moves farther on, and makes room for the new-comer. Others 

 land in rapid succession, and the whole strand is soon full of life, for these unreflective 

 creatures never think of taking a short walk inland, so as to secure a quiet berth at ease, but 

 must needs lie down where they land, although they are sure to be disturbed by their comrades 

 as they rise out of the sea. As many as seven thousand have been seen in a single herd, 

 so that to attack one of these assemblies is no slight matter, for as soon as they take alarm, 

 they all come scuttling towards the sea, tumbling over each other in their haste, and present- 

 ing a formidable front simply by the weight of their huge bodies. 



In order to prevent the whole herd from making a simultaneous charge at their invaders, 

 the hunters endeavor to disperse them by means of dogs trained to the business, and so to 

 secure the animals as they fly affrighted in various directions. One such chase is techni- 

 cally termed a " cut," and if rightly conducted is so successful that at a single " cut" no less 

 than fifteen hundred of these huge Seals have been taken. These chases take place at night. 



The movements of the Walrus when on land are of a very clumsy character, as might be 

 supposed from the huge, unwieldy body of the animal, and the evident insufficiency of the 

 limbs to urge the weighty body forward with any speed. When this creature is hurried or 

 alarmed, it contrives to get over the ground at a pace that, although not very rapid, is yet 

 wonderfully so when the size of the animal is taken into account. The movement is a mixture 

 of jerks and leaps, and the Walrus is further aided in its progress by the tusks. Should it be 

 attacked, and its retreat cut off, the Walrus advances fiercely upon its enemy, striking from 

 side to side with its long tusks, and endeavoring to force a passage into the sea. If it should 

 be successful in its attempt, it hurries to the water's edge, lowers its head, and rolls uncere- 

 moniously into the sea, where it is in comparative safety. 



The Walrus is possessed of the same docile and affectionate disposition as the other Seals, 

 and has been more than once effectually tamed. One of these animals which was captured 

 while young, at Nova Zembla, and brought here, was remarkably gentle in its demeanor, and 

 learned many accomplishments from its owner. It had been so well instructed, that if taken 

 in a boat, it would leap overboard at the word of command, chase and catch fish, and return 

 to the boat bearing the fish in its mouth. 



The number of young which the Walrus produces at a litter is seldom if ever more than 

 one, and when newly born, the little animal is about the size of a yearling pig. Winter is 

 the usual time of year for the appearance of the young, and the mother always repairs to the 

 shore or to the ice-fields for the purpose of nourishing her family. The maternal Walrus is 

 very attentive to her charge, and while in the water is very solicitous about its welfare, carry- 

 ing it about under her fore-limbs, and defending it from any danger that may arise, regardless 

 of her own safety in watching over that of her offspring. When a mother Walrus is sur- 

 prised upon the shore, she places her young one upon her back, and hurries away to the sea, 

 bearing her precious burden. 



This animal attains to a very great size, so great, indeed, that its dimensions can hardly 

 be appreciated except by ocular demonstration. A full-grown male Walrus is generally from 

 twelve to fifteen feet in length, while there are many specimens that have been known to 

 attain a still greater size. The skin is black and smooth, and is sparingly covered with brown 

 hairs, which become more numerous on the feet. The eye is very small in proportion to the 

 size of the animal, and after death sinks so completely into its socket that it cannot be seen 

 except by an experienced observer. By pressure upon each side of the orbit, the eye suddenly 

 starts forward, and becomes visible. 



The Walrus has once or twice been seen off the British coasts, but is so very rare a vis- 

 itant that any such occurrences can only be considered as exceptional to the general rule. The 

 term Walrus literally signifies " whale horse," and the specific name, rosmarus, is a Latinized 

 form of the Norwegian word Rosmar, or "sea horse." The word Morse is slightly altered 

 from the Russian Morss, or the Lapponic Morsk. 



