72 Quadrupeds. 



THE WALBUS, MOESE, OE SEA-COW. 



(Tnchechus JRosmarus.) 



THIS very curious animal is nearly allied to the Seal, bu1 

 is of much greater size, being frequently eighteen feet 

 in length, and from ten to twelve feet in girth. The 

 head is round, the eyes are small and brilliant, and the 

 upper lip, which is enormously thick, is covered with 

 pellucid bristles, as large as a straw. The nostrils are 

 very large, and there are no external ears. The most 

 remarkable part of the Walrus is, however, his two large 

 tusks in the upper jaw ; they are inverted, the points 

 nearly uniting, and sometimes exceed twenty-four inches 

 in length ! the use which the animal makes of them is 

 not easily explained, unless they help him to climb up 

 the rocks and mountains of ice among which he takes up 

 his abode, as the parrot employs his beak to get upon his 

 perch. The tusks of the Walrus are superior in dura- 

 bility and whiteness to those of the elephant, and, as 

 they keep their colour much longer, are preferred by 

 dentists to any other substance for making artificial 

 teeth. 



The Walrus is common in some of the northern seas, 

 and will sometimes attack a boat full of men. They are 

 gregarious animals, usually found in herds of from fifty 

 to one hundred or more, sleeping and snoring on the 

 icy shores ; but when alarmed they precipitate them- 

 selves into the water with great bustle and trepidation, 



