The Zoologist— May, 1866. 203 



as I have often seen Phoca barbata do, I could quite understand any 

 person, not an unromantic naturalist, on witnessing for the first time 

 such a sight as I have tried to describe, honestly believing that the 

 mythical monster was actually before his eyes. I never had the oppor- 

 tunity of closely examining a " springer ;" but one learned immediately 

 to distinguish this species from the other two I have mentioned: not 

 only its wonderful activity in the water, but its elongated head (even 

 when the size of its body, just about intermediate between P. barbata 

 and Callocephalus foetidus, was not to be ascertained) was quite suffi- 

 cient for that purpose. This species resorts in great numbers to the 

 ice in the neighbourhood of Jan Mayen, whence one of its common 

 names ; and in former years several vessels were annually equipped at 

 Tromso and Hammerfest in pursuit of it ; but I believe that of late 

 this practice has been a good deal discontinued. 



Although none of our party were lucky enough to get a glimpse of 

 a walrus, I cannot refrain from mentioning here some circumstances 

 connected with the history and habits of that curious and mighty beast. 

 It is pretty well known that in the summer of 1853 a living example 

 was deposited in our gardens, which, however, after a few days 

 languished and died, probably from having been fed on a diet so 

 unnatural to it as oatcake.* Yef this is by no means the only instance 

 of this animal being brought alive to England. So long ago as 1608, 

 the ship " God-speed," commanded by Master Thomas Welden, 

 performed a voyage to Cherie, now commonly called Bear Island, and 

 in the account of the expedition it is written — 



" On the twelfth [Jul}'] we took into our ship two young morses, 

 male and female, aliue : the female died before we came into England: 

 the male lined about ten weeks. When wee had watered, we set sayle 

 for ^;?^/a»rf about foure of the clocke in the morning. * * * 



" The twentieth of August, wee arriued at London ; and hauing 

 dispatched some priuate businesse, we brought our liuing morse to the 

 Court, where the king and many honourable personages beheld it with 

 admiration lor the strangenesse of the same, the like whereof had neuer 

 before beene seene aliue in England. Not long after it fell sicke and 

 died. As the beaste in shape is very strange, so is it of strange docilitie 

 and apt to be taught, as by good experience we often proued."t 



* See ' Zoological Sketches,' by J. Wolf; edited by P. L. Sclater. Cf. also J. E. 

 Gray, P. Z. S. 1853, p. 112. 



f Hakluytus Posthumus or Porchas his Pilguimes, ttc. By Samuel 

 Purchas, B.D. London: 1624. vol. iii. p. 560. 



