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THE WALRUS, OR MORSE. 
As soon as a Walras gets out of the water, it lies down on the shore, and would not of 
its own free will stir from the spot on which it had first laid itself to repose. But another 
Walras soon emerges from the sea, and as it cannot very well climb over its comrade, 
begins to butt him until he moves farther on, and makes room for the new-comer. Others 
land in rapid succession, and the whole strand is soon full of life, for these unreflective 
creatures never think of taking a short walk inland, so as to secure a quiet berth at ease, but 
must needs lie down where they land, although they are sure to be disturbed by their comrades 
as they rise out of the sea. As many as seven thousand have been seen in a single herd, 
so that to attack one of these assemblies is no slight matter, for as soon as they take alarm, 
they all come scuttling towards the sea, tumbling over each other in their haste, and present- 
ing a formidable front simply by the weight of their huge bodies. 
In order to prevent the whole herd from making a simultaneous charge at their invaders, 
the hunters endeavor to disperse them by means of dogs trained to the business, and so to 
secure the animals as they fly affrighted in various directions. One such chase is techni- 
cally termed a “ cut,” and if rightly conducted is so successful that at a single “ cut ” no less 
than fifteen hundred of these huge Seals have been taken. These chases take place at night. 
The movements of the Walras when on land are of a very clumsy character, as might be 
supposed from the huge, unwieldy body of the animal, and the evident insufficiency of the 
limbs to urge the weighty body forward with any speed. When this creature is hurried or 
alarmed, it contrives to get over the ground at a pace that, although not very rapid, is yet 
wonderfully so when the size of the animal is taken into account. The movement is a mixture 
of jerks and leaps, and the Walrus is further aided in its progress by the tusks. Should it be 
attacked, and its retreat cut off, the Walras advances fiercely upon its enemy, striking from 
side to side rath its long tusks, and endeavoring to force a passage into the sea. If it should 
be successful in its attempt, it hurries to the water’ s edge, lowers its head, and rolls uncere- 
moniously into the sea, where it is in comparative safety. 
The Walras is possessed of the same docile and affectionate disposition as the other Seals, 
and has been more than once effectually tamed. One of these animals which was captured 
while young, at Nova Zembla, and brought here, was remarkably gentle in its demeanor, and 
learned many accomplishments from its owner. It had been so well instructed, that if taken 
in a boat, it would leap overboard at the word of command, chase and catch fish, and return 
to the boat bearing the fish in its mouth. 
The number of young which the Walras produces at a litter is seldom if ever more than 
one, and when newly born, the little animal is about the size of a yearling pig. Winter is 
the usual time of year for the appearance of the young, and the mother always repairs to the 
shore or to the ice-fields for the purpose of nourishing her family. The maternal Walrus is 
very attentive to her charge, and while in the water is very solicitous about its welfare, carry- 
ing it about under her fore-limbs, and defending it from any danger that may arise, regardless 
of her own safety in watching over that of her offspring. When a mother Walras is sur- 
prised upon the shore, she places her young one upon her back, and hurries away to the sea, 
bearing her precious burden. 
This animal attains to a very great size, so great, indeed, that its dimensions can hardly 
be appreciated except by ocular demonstration. A full-grown male Walras is generally from 
twelve to fifteen feet in length, while there are many specimens that have been known to 
attain a still greater size. The skin is black and smooth, and is sparingly covered with brown 
hairs, which become more numerous on the feet. The eye is very small in proportion to the 
size of the animal, and after death sinks so completely into its socket that it cannot be seen 
except by an experienced observer. By pressure upon each side of the orbit, the eye suddenly 
starts forward, and becomes visible. 
The Walras has once or twice been seen off the British coasts, but is so very rare a vis- 
itant that any such occurrences can only be considered as exceptional to the general rale. The 
term Walras literally signifies “ whale horse,” and the specific name, rosmarus , is a Latinized 
form of the Norwegian word Rosmar, or “ sea horse.” The word Morse is slightly altered 
from the Russian Morss, or ike Lapponic Morsk. 
