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THE AQUATIC OR MARINE CARNIVORA. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION THE WALRUS, OR MORSE. 



Pinnipedia distinctly Aquatic The Three Families Their Common Characteristics Skeleton Mobility of Figure Feet- 

 Dentition Skull Tongue Stomach Intestine Peculiar Disposition of Blood-vessels of Liver Lungs Sense of 

 Smell Larynx Brain Sense of Hearing The "Walrus Family Characteristics THE WALRUS, OR MORSE 

 Geographical Distribution Fossil Forms Weight Size Appearance in Old Age Mode of Walk Habits On 

 Guard In the Water Attacked Tusks Dentition of the Young Uses of the Tusks Food Long Fasts Story of 

 "Jamie," a Tame Walrus The Young Maternal Affection Massacre Walrus as an Article of Diet. 



THE Walrus, the Sea Lions, and the Seals, collectively termed the Pinnipedia,* or by some Pinni- 

 grada,t constitute the second well-marked group or sub-order of the Carnivora. They are truly 

 inhabitants of the high seas, the land being to them only an occasional resort, when procreation or 

 other causes induce short visits, or temporary residence thereupon. In the previous chapters it has 

 been noted that certain of the so-called Land Garni vora, the White Polar Bear, or the Common Otter 

 (Lutra), for example, take freely to the water, and even subsist on finny and other prey derived there- 

 from, but nevertheless, as a rule, such Carnivora only peradventure are semi-aquatic. The one notable 

 instance to the contrary is the Sea Otter (Enhydra), an animal seldom seen on land, though 

 rarely met with far from rocky reefs and islets. Besides mere habit, the Polar Bears and Otters in 

 some points of their organisation particularly the conformation of the skull of the first, and webbed 

 toes and abundant under-fur in the two last show a partial gradation and tendency of structure 

 towards their strictly marine brethren, the Seal tribe. 



The group of the Pinnipedia is one in which considerable interest is centred, and this for 

 several reasons. Their history, as handed down by classical lore, has a shade of the mythical, and well 

 shows how fable has become engrafted on fact. Within the last two centuries their pursuit has been 

 brimful of incident and adventure. As articles of commerce, the oil and the furs of certain kinds 

 of the Seal tribe are of immense importance ; whilst the mere hides of all, besides the Walrus tusks, 

 are commodities of great value. Indeed, to the natives of the Arctic regions, Seals are indispensable 

 as a means of every-day existence. But to the naturalist the fact of their being Carnivores peculiarly 

 adapted to an aquatic life, and the study of their habits generally, are subjects of intense interest. 



Moreover, the gradual, in some instances sudden, diminution of Seal life at the hand of man, 

 points to a possible early period of their extinction, as in the case of the Whales and Manatee tribes, 

 and warns, like the Roman story of the Sybilline books, that if we would read the history of the 

 past, the knowledge must be culled ere the records are swept beyond recall. 



The three families of the Pinnipedia are denominated in technical language the Trichechidse,J the 

 Otariidje, and the Phocidse.|| The first has but one living representative, the Walrus, or Morse; the 

 second contains the so-called Sea Lions and Sea Bears, more distinctively known as Eared Seals ; in the 

 third family are ranged the ordinary Seals, contra-distinguished as Earless Seals. Sufficiently different 

 among themselves in general aspects and habits, as to be recognised at a glance, the three families, 

 nevertheless, have characteristic features common to all, wherefrom the sub-order has received its 

 name. Their toes are united nearly throughout by a web of membrane, as in a duck's foot, which 

 converts the paws into broad, fin-like organs (the flippers), well adapted for swimming purposes. This 

 feather-footed, pinnipedal condition is associated with a shortening of the upper segments of the limbs, 

 and such peculiar attachment especially of the hind-legs as to leave little more than the feet free. The 

 body is long, usually ample and fleshy at the neck and shoulders, but narrows taperingly behind 

 towards the rump. The head is either flattish and elongated or more or less rounded, but in all cases 

 relatively small to the bulk of the animal. External ears are absent save in the Otary family, which 

 possess a diminutive, conical, or pear-shaped ear-conch. The eyes are full, and often expressive, 

 though usually on land bearing a drowsy look, from their vision being adapted for a watery medium. 



* Pinna, a fin ; pes, a foot. f Pinna, a fin ; gradus, a step. J From the Greek, 9pi(, a hair, and ex<*, I have. 



a From the Greek, ovs, WTO, an ear || From the Greek, ^onctj, a seal. 



