LAND AT LAST 385 



sters, with which in ancient clays these seas were thought 

 to swarm. At last the walrus came up in the hole be- 

 side which the others were lying, and raised himself a 

 little way up on to the edge of the ice by his tusks ; but 

 upon this the bigger of the two, a huge old bull, sud- 

 denly awoke to life. He grunted menacingly, and moved 

 about restlessly. The new-comer bowled his head re- 

 spectfully down to the ice, but soon pulled himself cau- 

 tiously up on to the floe, so as to get a hold with his 

 fore-paddle, and then drew himself a little way in. Now 

 the old bull was thoroughly roused. He turned round, 

 bellowed, and floundered up to the new-comer in order 

 to dig his enormous tusks into his back. The latter, 

 who appeared to be the (jld bull's equal both as regards 

 tusks and size, bowed humbly, and laid his head down 

 upon the ice just like a slave before his sultan. The 

 old bull returned to his companion, and lay quietly down 

 as before, but no sooner did the new-comer stir, after 

 having lain for some time in this servile posture, than 

 the old bull grunted and thrust at him, and he once 

 more respectfully drew back. This was repeated sev- 

 eral times. At lens^th, after much manoeuvrino; back- 

 ward and forward, the new-comer succeeded in drawing 

 himself on to the floe, and finally up beside the others. 

 I thought the tender passion must have something to 

 do with these proceedings ; but I discovered afterwards 

 that all three were males. And it is in this friendly 



manner that walruses receive their guests. It appears 

 II.— 2^ 



