178 MARINE 3IAM3IALS OF THE NOBTH-WESTEBN COAST. 



in its movements ; but in the water its motions are easy and vigorous. Its geo- 

 graphical distribution quite encircles the globe in that colder belt of the northern 

 hemisphere, above the latitude of 45°, and but few individuals are met with south 

 of 47° north. In Behring Sea they are foimd as far south as the shores of the 

 peninsula of Alaska, and in the Pacific Ocean about several of the islands which 

 fringe the central coast of Alaska Territory. They feed upon shell -fish and other 

 submerged marine productions. The Walrus is gregarious, being sometimes found 

 in herds upon the ice, and at the proper season the animals collect upon the 

 beaches, or they clamber upon rocky islets in remote places. They are said to be 

 monogamous, but we are of the opinion that they are not exclusively so. The sea- 

 son when the sexes seek each other is in the last of the spring months, or the 

 first of the summer. The time of gestation is about nine months. The mother 

 and her offspring manifest a stronger mutual affection than we have observed in 

 any other of the marine mammals ; and the cub seeks her protection, clinging to 

 her back whenever there is cause for alarm,* and she will at all times place herself 

 between the foe and her helpless charge. Frequently has she been known to clasp 

 to her breast the terrified little one, embracing it with her fore flippers, while 

 receiving mortal wounds from the whaleman's lance. A male, and a female with 

 her cub, are often seen together ; yet herds of old and young, of both sexes, are 

 mot with, both in the water and upon the ice. When undisturbed they are quite 

 inoffensive, but if hotly pursued they make a fierce resistance ; their mode of attack 

 is by hooking their tusks over the gunwales of the boats, which may overturn 

 them, or they strike a blow through the planking, which has repeatedly been the 

 means of staving and sinking them. Captain Lyon remarks: "Mr. Shirer described 

 the fury of the wounded animals as being quite outrageous ; but those which were 

 unhurt quickly forsook their suffering companions." There may have been instances 

 of a combined attack of Walruses on besieging boats ; but like all other marine 

 mammals which have been continuously pursued, they soon become wary, and when 

 there is cause for alarm they give warning to their neighboring associates by loud 



* Captain T. W. Williams, a whaling master a bowline was easily thrown over it, and the 

 of much experience and observation, states, that bereaved creature taken on deck, when it instant- 

 on one voyage to the Arctic Ocean, a female ly mounted its mother's back and there clung 

 "VValms was captured two miles from the ship, with mournful solicitude, until forced by the 

 and the young cub kept close to the boats that sailors to again return to the sea; but even 

 were towing its dead mother to the vessel; and then it remained in the vicinity of the ship, be- 

 when arrived, made every effort to follow her as moaning the loss of its parent by uttering dis- 

 she was being hoisted on board. A rope with tressful cries. 



