l62 



LLOYD S NATURAL HISTORY. 



a greyish-brown colour, but becoming lighter with age, and in 

 very old individuals to a great extent disappearing, and leaving 

 the body nearly naked. Total length, from 12 to 15 feet. 



Distribution. — Essentially an inhabitant of the frozen regions 

 of the north, the Walrus, or Morse, has but slight claim to be 

 regarded as a British animal, so far at least as the historical 

 period is concerned. Typically from the North Atlantic and 

 Arctic Oceans, this species may probably be regarded as 

 likewise an inhabitant of the North Pacific, since, in our 



Skull of Walrus. 



opinion, the view taken by the American naturalists that 

 the Pacific Walrus is entitled to rank as a distinct species is 

 untenable. Apart from certain early references to its reported 

 occurrence on the coast of Scotland, the first definite record of 

 the occurrence of the Walrus within our limits is one given by 

 Macgillivray, who states that the example in question was shot 

 while reposing on a rock at Caolas Stocnis, in the island of 

 Harris, during the winter of 181 7. This specimen, which was 

 actually seen in the flesh by its describer, measured ten feet 



