THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 665 



the walrus evinces a greater degree of courage in the water, 

 where it is able to make a better use of the strength and weapon* 

 bestowed upon it by nature. Many instances are known where 

 walruses, which never attack but when provoked, have turned 

 upon their assailants, or have even assembled from a distance to 

 assist a wounded comrade. 



Like the seals, the walrus is easily tamed, and of a most affec- 

 tionate temper. This was shown in a remarkable manner by a 

 young walrus brought alive from Archangel to St. Petersburg in 

 1829. Its keeper, Madame Dennebecq, having tended it with the 

 greatest care, the grateful animal expressed its pleasure whenever 

 she came near it by an affectionate grunt. It not only followed 

 her with its eyes, but was never happier than when allowed to 

 lay its head in her lap. The tenderness was reciprocal, and Ma- 

 dame Dennebecq used to talk of her walrus with the same warmth 

 of affection as if it had been a pet lap-dog. 



That parental love should be highly developed in animals thus 

 susceptible of friend sip may easily be imagined. Mr. Lament, 

 an English gentleman whom the love of spor* led a few years 

 since to Spitzbergen, relates the case of a wounded walrus who 

 held a very young calf under her right arm. Whenever the har- 

 poon was raised against it, the mother carefully shielded it with 

 her own body. The countenance of this poor animal was never 

 to be forgotten : that of the calf expressive of abject terror, 

 and yet of such a boundless confidence in its mother's power of 

 protecting it, as it swam along under her wing, and the old cow's 

 face showing such reckless defiance for all that could be done to 

 herself, and yet such terrible anxiety as to the safety of her calf. 

 This parental affection is shamefully misused by man, for it is a 

 common artifice of the walrus-hunters to catch a young animal 

 and make it grunt, in order to attract a herd. 



Though affectionate under certain conditions Jiere is no more 

 savage animal on earth than a mad walrus, PM- is there one more 

 to be feared in close contest. They have , ferocious aspect dis- 

 tinguishable in no other animal. 



