THE SEA ELEPHANT. 



In order to prevent the whole herd from making a simultaneous charge at their 

 invaders, the hunters endeavor to disperse them by means of dogs trained to the 

 business, and so to secure the animals as they fly affrighted in various directions. One 

 such chase is technically termed a " cut," and if rightly conducted is so successful that 

 at a single " cut " no less than fifteen hundred of these huge Seals have been taken. 

 These chases take place at night. 



The movements of the Walrus when on land are of a very clumsy character, as 

 might be supposed from the huge, unwieldy body of the animal, and the evident insuffi- 

 ciency of the limbs to urge the weighty body forward with any speed. When this 

 creature is hurried or alarmed, it contrives to get over the ground at a pace that, 

 although not very rapid, is yet wonderfully so when the size of the animal is taken into 

 account. The movement is a mixture of jerks and leaps, and the Walrus is further 

 aided in its progress by the tusks. Should it be attacked, and its retreat cut off, the 

 Walrus advances fiercely upon its enemy, striking from side to side with its long^tusks, 

 and endeavoring to force a passage into the sea. If it should be successful in its 

 attempt, it hurries to the water's edge, lowers its head, and rolls unceremoniously into 

 the sea, where it is in comparative safety. 



The Walrus is possessed of the same docile and affectionate disposition as the other 

 Seals, and has been more than once effectually tamed. One of these animals which 

 was captured while young at Nova Zembla, and brought to England, was remarkably 

 gentle in its demeanor, and learned many accomplishments from its owner. It had 

 been so well instructed, that if taken in a boat, it would leap overboard at the word of 

 command, chase and catch fish, and return to the boat bearing the fish in its mouth. 



The number of young which the Walrus produces at a litter is seldom if ever more 

 than one, and when newly born, the little animal is about the size of a yearling pig. 

 Winter is the usual time of year for the appearance of the young, and the mother always 

 repairs to the shore or to the ice-fields for the purpose of nourishing her family. The 

 maternal Walrus is very attentive to her charge, and while in the water is very solicitous 

 about its welfare, carrying it about under her fore-limbs, and defending it from any 

 danger that may arise, regardless of her own safety in watching over that of her off- 

 spring. When a mother Walrus is surprised upon the shore, she places her young one 

 upon her back, and hurries away to the sea, bearing her precious burden. 



This animal attains to a very greater size, so great, indeed, that its dimensions can 

 hardly be appreciated except by ocular demonstration. A full-grown male Walrus 

 is generally from twelve to fifteen feet in length, while there are many specimens 

 that have been known to attain a still greater size. The skin is black and smooth, and 

 is sparingly covered with brown hairs, which become more numerous on the feet. 

 The eye is very small in proportion to the size of the animal, and after death sinks so 

 completely into its socket that it cannot be seen except by an experienced observer. 

 By pressure upon each side of the orbit, the eye suddenly starts forward, and becomes 

 visible. 



The Walrus has once or twice been seen off the British coasts, but is so very rare a 

 visitant that any such occurrences can only be considered as exceptioual to the general 

 rule. The term Walrus literally signifies " whale horse," and the specific name, Ros- 

 marus, is a Latinized form of the Norwegian word Rosmar, or "sea horse." The word 

 Morse is slightly altered from the Russian Morss, or the Lapponic Morsk. 



ANOTHER powerful and grotesque Seal now engages our attention. This is the 

 ELEPHANT SEAL, or SEA ELEPHANT, so called not only on account of the strange 

 prolongation of the nose, which bears some analogy to the proboscis of the elephant, 

 but also on account of its elephantine size. Large specimens of this monstrous Seal 

 measure as much as thirty feet in length, and fifteen or eighteen feet in circumference 

 at the largest part of their bodies. 



The color of the Sea Elephant is rather variable even in individuals of the same sex 

 and age, but is generally as follows. The fur of the male is usually of a bluish-gray, 

 which sometimes deepens into dark brown, while that of the female is darker, and 

 variegated with sundry dapplings of a yellow hue. This animal is an inhabitant of the 



