WALRUS. 



129 



less timorous cousins the sea-bears and sea-lions. It is stated that in a single year 

 upwards of 28,000 Ibs. weight of walrus-ivory was obtained from the Prybiloffs 

 alone. 



In prehistoric times the range of the Atlantic walrus was much more exten- 

 sive than during the historic epoch, on both the eastern and the western sides of the 

 Atlantic. Thus its remains have been dredged up from the Dogger Bank off the 

 eastern coast of England ; while a skull was dug up from the peat near Ely, in- 

 dicating that the animal formerly inhabited the valley of the Ouse, which was at 

 that time probably an estuary. On the eastern coast of America walrus bones 

 have been dug up as far south as New Jersey, Virginia, and even California. At a 

 still earlier period walruses, which are considered to belong to an extinct species, 

 inhabited both the eastern coast of England and the shores of Belgium ; numerous 

 remains having been obtained from the so-called crags of the Pliocene period in 

 both countries. 



Habits There appears to be no well-marked difference between the habits 



of the Atlantic and Pacific varieties. Walruses are usually found in 

 the neighbourhood of shores or masses of floating ice, and are but seldom seen in 

 the open sea. As a rule, they associate in companies or herds, depending in size 

 upon the number of individuals in the particular locality. In addition to this 

 fondness for each other's company, Baron Nordenskiold states that curiosity is a 

 distinguishing trait of the walrus, and relates how that when on one occasion he 

 rowed right into the midst of a herd, " part followed the boat long distances quite 

 peaceably, now and then emitting a grunting sound ; others swam quite close, and 

 raised themselves high out of the water, in order to take a view of the strangers. 

 Others, again, lay so closely packed on pieces of drift-ice as to sink them down to 

 the water's edge, while their comrades swimming about in the sea endeavoured 

 with violence to gain a position on the already overfilled resting-places, though a 

 number of unoccupied pieces of ice floated up and down in the neighbourhood/ 

 When on shore, or on an ice-floe, the various members of a party of walruses are 

 described as huddling and pressing together against one another like pigs. From 

 April to June, according to the latitude, is the breeding-season ; and during this 

 period the walruses are stated to remain on shore for about a fortnight, during 

 which time they neither eat nor drink. Usually there is but a single young 

 produced at a birth ; and there is never more than a pair. The young are stated 

 to be suckled by the parent for upwards of two years ; and it is hence believed 

 that the same female breeds but once in every three years. The females, while 

 suckling their young, are said to assemble in herds apart from the males. Like 

 seals, walruses appear to have circular breathing-holes in the ice, to which they 

 can resort from below without exposing themselves. The voice of these animals is 

 a loud roar, which in the case of large herds can be heard at the distance of several 

 miles. 



Unless molested, the walrus is stated to be gentle and inoffensive in dis- 

 position ; but when attacked displays great fierceness and vindictiveness, while its 

 huge bulk renders it a formidable antagonist, especially when its aggressors are 

 afloat in a small boat. Not less noteworthy is the affection of the female walrus 

 for its young, and likewise the sympathy of all the members of a herd for a 



VOL. ii. 9 



