MATERNAL AFFECTION OF WALUTJS. 63 



to receive with pleasure several harpoons 

 which were intended for the young one. At 

 last a well-aimed dart struck the calf, and 

 we then shortened up the lines attached to 

 the cow and finished her with the lances. 

 Christian now had time and hreath to explain 

 to me why he was so anxious to secure the 

 calf, and he proceeded to give me a practical 

 illustration of his meaning by gently " stir- 

 ring up " the unfortunate junger with 

 the butt end of a harpoon shaft. This caused 

 the poor little animal to emit a peculiar, 

 plaintive, grunting cry, eminently expressive 

 of alarm and of a desire for assistance, and 

 Christian said it would bring all the herd 

 round about the boat immediately. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, we had been so long in 

 getting hold of our poor little decoy duck, 

 that the others had all gone out of hearing, 

 and they abandoned their young relative to 

 his fate, which quickly overtook him in the 

 shape of a lance thrust from the remorseless 

 Christian. 



I don't think I shall ever forget the faces 

 of the old walrus and her calf as they looked 

 back at the boat ! The countenance of the 

 young one so expressive of abject terror, and 



