664 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



enormous tusks projecting downward to the length of two feet. 

 The walrus is is one of the largest quadrupeds existing, as it attains 

 a length of twenty feet, and a weight of from fifteen hundred to 

 two thousand pounds. In uncouthness of form it surpasses even 

 the ungainly hippopotamus . It has a small head with a remark- 

 ably thick upper lip, covered with large pellucid whiskers or 



FIGHT BETWEEN BEARS AND A WALRUS. 



bristles ; the neck is thick and short ; the naked gray or red- 

 brown skin hangs loosely on the ponderous and elongated trunk ; 

 and the short feet terminate in broad fin-like paddles, resembling 

 large ill-fashioned flaps of leather. 



Timorous and almost helpless on land, where, in spite of its 

 formidable tusks, it falls an easy prey to the attacks of man, 



