THE WALJil'S, OR MOI1SK. 



363 



seem to be fully aware of the effect of united resistance and attack, and also of the utility of 

 in masses and ranks ; for, should any one of them attempt to retreat, those in his rear fall upon, and 

 compel him to keep in the ranks, or kill him. Sometimes it happens, that when one walrus attempts to 

 stop another, who is retreating, they all begin to suspect each other of being inclined to fly ; and, in 

 that case, the contest often becomes universal. When two are fighting with one, the others come to 

 the aid of the weaker side. While they are thus fighting on the land, others that are in the water 

 raise their heads, and look on for a time, till they also become enraged, swim to shore, and join in the 

 combat. 



In the memorable voyage of Captain Cook, he describes his meeting with a herd of walruses oft 

 the north coast of America. " They lie," he says, " in herds of many hundreds upon the ice, huddling 

 over one another like swine ; and roar or bray so very loud, that in the night, or in foggy weather, 

 they gave us notice of the vicinity of the ice before we could see it. We never found the whole herd 

 asleep, some being always upon the watch. These, on the approach of the boat, would awake those 

 next to them ; and the alarm being thus gradually communicated, the whole herd would be awake 



THE WAT.IU'S. 



presently. But they were seldom in a hurry to get away, till after they had been once fired at. 

 They then would tumble over one another into the sea, in the utmost confusion ; and i lid not, 



at the first discharge, kill those we fired at, we generally lost them, though mortally won,,,!.,!. 

 did not appear to us to be that dangerous animal wl*ch some authors have described not 

 when attacled. They are more so in appearance than reality Vast numbers of hen, .won d 

 follow, and come close" up to the boats; but the flash of the musket in the pan or even the bare 

 pointing of one at them, would send them down in an instant. The female w,l d,fend her ,, 

 the ve,; last, and at the expense of her own life, whether in the water or upon the ice. 

 young one quit the dam, though she be dead; so that, if one is killed, the other , 

 The dam, when in the water, holds the young one between her fore arms. 



The walrus inhabits the seas about North America, Davis'* Straits, Hudson s 



y , from almost every Barter, congregate in the Gulf of St. 



I^wret ! and sprel themselves over the group caHed the Magdalene l,,ands. 

 calculated to supply their wants, as they abound in a great variety of large ***** 

 the shore, being of a gentle slope, with few precipitous rocks, they are abl, 



