8o The Walrus, Morse, or Sea^Horse 



herd of infuriated Walrus, each armed with the for- 

 midable weapons before noted. 



Contrary to the expectation aroused by its appear- 

 ance, the Walrus has a large and fully-developed brain, 

 although it is not especially notable for intelligence. 

 But then the study of the brain is so far from being well 

 advanced that we do not yet know why the elephant 

 with its comparatively insignificant brain should be 

 so much more intelligent than the ox, one-eighth of the 

 elephant's bulk and with a brain almost as large. Or 

 why the sperm whale should be so intelligent, with a 

 brain about the same size as the ox and a body one 

 hundred times larger. Perhaps in the latter instance 

 there is a distribution of brain at points along the spinal 

 column, so that messages from outlying parts of the 

 body should not have so far to travel. I do not here 

 try to be funny but only state what has been seriously 

 suggested by naturalists. 



In one respect, at any rate, the Walrus is the equal 

 of any of the higher intelligences. That is in the 

 parental quality. No animal cares for its offspring 

 so long or more lovingly. No animal will willingly 

 undergo more suffering and privation for the sake of 

 its young. There can be no doubt that the female 

 Walrus suckles its young, and provides other food for 

 it as well during the latter part of the period, for two 

 years. This has been, I think, abundantly proved 

 by observation, and, moreover, the great canine teeth 

 which develop into the formidable tusks characteristic 

 of this animal, and without which it is impossible for 

 it to live, do not show more than an inch or two until 

 it is two years old. But the mother never seems to 

 weary of her huge burden, the baby, if it be a male, 

 often reaching its mother's proportions before it is 

 weaned. With infinite, devoted patience she cares 



