160 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



hunting is ceasing to pay as a pursuit. The havoc that has been 

 wantonly wrought among them may be judged of by the fact that in 

 1852 nine hundred were killed in Spitsbergen on one occasion, only 

 half of which could be utilised. The extinction Of this remarkable 

 and useful animal — whose place in nature could not be filled by 

 anything else — would be a standing disgrace to humanity; it would 

 be a good thing, not only to regulate by international agreement its 

 capture in its Northern haunts, but to transport it to the cold Southern 

 seas, where it would probably thrive and become a source of great 

 profit to future generations. 



This, however, would be a task of some considerable difficulty, for 

 the Walrus has been seldom brought even as far as Europe in 

 captivity, although so curious an animal would be a great acquisition 

 to any collection. Adults seem never to have been captured alive, 

 but cubs have frequently been taken, and show great affection for their 

 human associates, combined with considerable intelligence. They require 

 soft food, such as the bodies of shellfish, and the intestines of fishes, 

 while they will also eat strips of fish or pork, and porridge or 

 pea-soup. 



They are certainly delicate animals, and require much care; the 

 London Zoological Gardens have only exhibited two — one which arrived 

 in 1867, and did not live two months ; and later another, which only 

 remained at the Gardens for a few days. 



There are few animals more worthy of the attention of such insti- 

 tutions than this, which would vie in attractiveness with the' Hippo- 

 potamus and Elephant; and while this was passing through the press 

 I was glad to hear that the chief animal-dealer of the world, Herr 

 Hagenbeck of Hamburg, possessed several specimens. 



