130 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



his unwieldy body upon the ice-blocks and precipitous shores, 

 where he loves to bask in the sun. Both animals use them, 

 moreover, as formidable weapons, the former against the bound- 

 ing tiger, the latter against the hungry ice-bear or the voracious 

 shark. 



In fine weather the walruses, like the seals, gather on the ice, 

 where they may be seen in herds consisting occasionally of 

 upwards of 100 animals each. In these situations they appear 

 greatly to enjoy themselves, rolling and sporting about, and 

 frequently making the air resound with their bellowing, which 

 bears some resemblance to that of a bull. These diversions 

 generally end in sleep, during which these wary animals appear 

 always to take the precaution of having a sentinel to warn them 

 of any danger to which they may be liable. So universal seems 

 the observance of this precaution amongst their species, that 

 Beechey, who had many opportunities of observing them in 

 Spitzbergen, scarcely ever saw a herd, however small, in which 

 he did not notice one of the party on the watch, stretching his 

 long neck in the air every half-minute, to the utmost extent of 

 its muscles, to survey the ground about him. In the event of 

 any alarming appearances, the sentinel begins by seeking his 

 own safety ; and as these animals always lie huddled upon one 

 another, the motion of one is immediately communicated to the 

 whole group, which is instantly in motion towards the water. 

 When the herd is large, and an alarm is given, the consequences 

 are most ludicrous. From the unwieldy nature of the animals, 

 the state of fear into which they are thrown, aDd their being so 

 closely packed together, at first they tumble over one another, 

 get angry, and in their endeavour to regain their feet flounder 

 about in each other's way, till having at last scrambled to the 

 edge of the ice, they tumble into the water, head first, if possible, 

 but otherwise, in any position in which chance may have placed 

 them, occasioning one of the most laughable scenes it is possible 

 to conceive. 



Though the first movement of the walruses at the approach 

 of danger is to seek the water, yet here, enraged by an unpro- 

 voked attack, they often become most formidable assailants ; of 

 which Beechey recounts a remarkable instance. 



One evening, while the Dorothea and Trent were at anchor 

 in Magdalena Bay, Spitzbergen, several herds of these animals 



