ARCTIC WALRUS. 
323 
send them down in an instant. The female will 
defend the young to the very last, and at the expense 
of her own life, whether in the water or upon the 
ice. Nor will the young one quit the dam, though 
she be dead ; so that if one is killed the other is cer- 
tain prey. The dam when in the water holds the 
young one between her fore fins.” 
Mr. Pennant has extracted from Hackluyt’s Voy- 
ages an account of the famous Octher the Norwegian, 
who at a very early period, excited by a most lau- 
dable curiosity and thirst of discovery, sailed to the 
north of his country, doubled the North Cape, and 
in three days from his departure arrived at the fur- 
thest place frequented by the horse-whale fishers. 
From thence he proceeded a voyage of three days 
more, and perhaps got into the White sea. On his 
return he visited England, probably incited by the 
fame of King Alfred’s abilities, and the great encou- 
ragement he gave to men of distinguished character 
in every profession. The traveller, as a proof of the 
authenticity of his relation, presented the Saxon 
monarch with some of the teeth of these animals, 
which were at that time highly valued, being used 
instead of ivory. 
Formerly the teeth used to be applied to all the 
purposes of ivory; but atpresentthey are only killed for 
the sake of their oil, one walrus yielding about half a 
ton. The transparent bristles of this creature’s whis- 
kers are supposed to possess the power of prevent- 
ing the cramp, and are for that purpose made into 
rings, and worn by the seamen. The Greenlanders 
