WALRUS. 
129 
less timorous cousins the sea-bears and sea-lions. It is stated that in a single year 
upwards of 28,000 lbs. weight of walrus-ivory was obtained from the Prybiloffs 
alone. 
In prehistoric times the range of the Atlantic walrus was much more exten¬ 
sive than during the historic epoch, on both the eastern and the western sides of the 
Atlantic. Thus its remains have been dredged up from the Dogger Bank off the 
eastern coast of England; while a skull was dug up from the peat near Ely, in¬ 
dicating that the animal formerly inhabited the valley of the Ouse, which was at 
that time probably an estuary. On the eastern coast of America walrus bones 
have been dug up as far south as New Jersey, Virginia, and even California. At a 
still earlier period walruses, which are considered to belong to an extinct species, 
inhabited both the eastern coast of England and the shores of Belgium; numerous 
remains having been obtained from the so-called crags of the Pliocene period in 
both countries. 
There appears to be no well-marked difference between the habits 
Habits. 
of the Atlantic and Pacific varieties. Walruses are usually found in 
the neighbourhood of shores or masses of floating ice, and are but seldom seen in 
the open sea. As a rule, they associate in companies or herds, depending in size 
upon the number of individuals in the particular locality. In addition to this 
fondness for each other’s company, Baron Nordenskiold states that curiosity is a 
distinguishing trait of the walrus, and relates how that when on one occasion he 
rowed right into the midst of a herd, “ part followed the boat long distances quite 
peaceably, now and then emitting a grunting sound; others swam quite close, and 
raised themselves high out of the water, in order to take a view of the strangers. 
Others, again, lay so closely packed on pieces of drift-ice as to sink them down to 
the water’s edge, while their comrades swimming about in the sea endeavoured 
with violence to gain a position on the already overfilled resting-places, though a 
number of unoccupied pieces of ice floated up and down in the neighbourhood.” 
When on shore, or on an ice-floe, the various members of a party of walruses are 
described as huddling and pressing together against one another like pigs. From 
April to June, according to the latitude, is the breeding-season; and during this 
period the walruses are stated to remain on shore for about a fortnight, during 
which time they neither eat nor drink. Usually there is but a single young- 
produced at a birth; and there is never more than a pair. The young are stated 
to be suckled by the parent for upwards of two years; and it is hence believed 
that the same female breeds but once in every three years. The females, while 
suckling their young, are said to assemble in herds apart from the males. Like 
seals, walruses appear to have circular breathing-holes in the ice, to which they 
can resort from below without exposing themselves. The voice of these animals is 
a loud roar, which in the case of large herds can be heard at the distance of several 
miles. 
Unless molested, the walrus is stated to be gentle and inoffensive in dis¬ 
position ; but when attacked displays great fierceness and vindictiveness, while its 
huge bulk renders it a formidable antagonist, especially when its aggressors are 
afloat in a small boat. Not less noteworthy is the affection of the female walrus 
for its young, and likewise the sympathy of all the members of a herd for a 
vol. 11.—9 
