210 



M A M M A L I A — M O R S E . 



victory somewhat resembles the chirping of a cricket. These animals are 

 chiefly found on the islands in the vicinity of Kamtschatka, from June to 

 September; after which they remove, some to the Asiatic, and some to the 

 American coast. On Behring's Island they are so numerous as almost to 

 cover the whole shore ; but it is a singular fact, that they only frequent that 

 part of it which lies toAvards Kamtschatka. 



Ursine seals live in families, each male being surrounded by from eight 

 to fifty females, whom he watches with the most vigilant jealousy, and 

 treats in the most tyrannical manner. They are of an irritable disposition, 

 and have frequent battles. So tenacious are they of life, that they will live 

 a fortnight after receiving wounds which would be speedily mortal to other 

 animals. 



THE WALRUS, OR M O R S E .i 



The name of sea cow, or sea horse, by which the walrus is most gene- 

 rally known, has been very wrongly applied ; since the animal which it 

 denotes has not the least resemblance to the land animals of that name: 

 the denomination of sea elephant, which others have given it, is much bet- 

 ter imagined, as it is founded on a singular and very apparent character. 

 The Avalrus, like the elephant, has two large ivory tusks, weighing from 

 ten to thirty pounds each, which shoot from the upper jaAv ; its head also is 

 formed, or rather deformed, like that of the elephant, and would entirely 

 resemble it in that part if it had a trunk ; but the walrus is deprived of that 

 instrument, which serves the elephant in the place of an arm and hand, and 

 has real arms to make use of. These members, like those of the seal, 

 are shut up within the skin, so that nothing appears outwardly but its hands 

 and feet : its body is long and tapering, thickest towards the neck : the 



* Trichecits rosmarvs, Gmel. The genus Trichecus lias two upper and no lower inci- 

 sors ; two upper and no lower t-anines ; ten uijper and ten lower molars ; incisors small, 

 deciduous ; superior canines or tusks large, longer than the head, compressed laterally ; 

 molars cylindrical, crouii truncated obliquely ; body elongated ; head round ; muzzle large ; 

 no external ears ; tail very short ; fore leet like fins, with five toes ; hind feet horizontal ; 

 Iocs enveloped in the skin. 



