THE SEAL. 



The Wall us inhabits the 

 northern seas, but occasionally 

 visits the British coasts. Three 

 instances of this have happened, 

 one in 1817, one in 1825 at the 

 Orkney Isles, and a third in 

 1839 at the mouth of the Severn. 

 The most remarkable point in 

 the Walrus is the great length 

 of two of its upper teeth, which 

 extend downwards for nearly 

 two feet, and resemble the tusks 

 of the elephant. They furnish 

 very fine ivory, and are exten- 

 sively used by dentists in ma- 

 king artificial teeth, as teeth 

 made from them remain white 

 much longer than those made 

 from the tusks of elephants. 

 These tusks are used by the 

 Walrus for climbing the rocks 

 or heaps of ice, and also for digging up the sea-weeds on which the animal mostly subsists. It will also 

 eat shrimps and young Seals. 



The Walrus is often hunted for the sake of its oil, its flesh, its skin, and its teeth. It is generally found 

 in troops, and if one is wounded, its companions rush to its rescue and attack the enemy with their sharp 

 tusks, which they have been known to drive through the bottom of a boat. Their skin is so strong and 

 slippery that it is very difficult to drive the harpoon through it, and even a sharp weapon frequently glides 

 off without injuring the animal. The great enemy of the Walrus is the Polar Bear, who does not always 

 venture on an open battle, as when a combat takes place, the Walrus defends himself most vigorously with 

 his curved tusks and often inflicts fearful gashes on the bear, forcing it to abandon the contest. 



The head of this animal is very small in proportion to the remainder of its body, and often deceives 

 people as to its size, which is difficult to ascertain without examination. The expression of its countenance 

 is very ferocious, principally on account of the enormous size of the upper lip and the thick bristles with 

 which it is covered. The length of the Walrus is about fifteen or sixteen feet, and it vields from twenty 

 to thirty gallons of excellent oil. 



Hunting the Walrus, or Morse. 



(99" 



Common Seals. 



A Walrus. 



