THE WALRUS 159 



because the injured animal will turn and attack its persecutors, but 

 also because its friends will make common cause with it. It may be 

 easily imagined that the assault of a herd of these brutes is a serious 

 thing for a party in a boat, which may easily be pulled over or stove 

 in by the tusks of the furious animals. 



The Walrus is credited with being, unlike the Sea-Lion, the 

 husband of only one wife ; but some cast doubts on his fidelity. It 

 is universally agreed, however, that the female has great affection for 

 her single cub; this is born in spring on the ice, and appears to be 

 suckled up to two years old, at which age the tusks begin to appear. 

 It is carried about a great deal on the back of the mother, who does 

 her best to guard it against the attacks of the Grampus or Killer-whale. 

 The only other natural enemy at all important for the Walrus is the 

 Polar Bear, and even he would find a full-grown beast rather too 

 much for him. 



The note of the Walrus is a curious one, somewhat between a 

 bark and a bellow ; it also grunts and snorts. The Eskimo name, 

 " Awuk," is supposed to give some idea of the cry. 



The Walrus is a purely Northern animal, found all round the 

 world, but chiefly in the high latitudes where ice is constantly present ; 

 it is one of the most characteristic forms of the Arctic regions, but 

 seems to have ranged farther south in former times, and to have been 

 driven away by constant persecution at the hands of man. The 

 Walrus of the Pacific (T. obesiis) is considered distinct from the Atlantic 

 species by some naturalists, but the distinctions between the two do 

 not amount to much. As long ago as 890 A.D., when Ohthere the 

 Norwegian described how he hunted the " Horse- Whales," and brought 

 a tusk to our King Alfred, the Walrus was a valued object of pursuit ; 

 and it is a profitable quarry, as its products are various, its fat of 

 course furnishing oil, while its hide is of use for harness-leather, and 

 its tusks furnish good ivory for artificial teeth. Its flesh is also 

 edible, and it furnishes a most important source of support for the 

 Eskimos and other Arctic tribes. Civilised man has, however, pursued 

 the poor animals with such brutal and greedy rapacity that Walrus- 



