110 
nearly an inch thick, is used to cover the 
masts or yards of ships, where they cross 
each other, to prevent their being in¬ 
jured by the friction. It was formerly 
cut into ropes; and Buffon mentions its 
being used at Paris in the springs of 
carriages. 
The walrus becomes very furious 
when attacked, and the whole herd join 
to revenge any injury an individual may 
have received. If wounded in the water, 
they will sometimes surround the boat, 
and attempt to sink her, by striking their 
tusks against her sides and bottom. Their 
combats with the bear, their most dan¬ 
gerous enemy, among the lower animals, 
have been already described. 
The water and air around Spitzber- 
gen abound more with inhabitants than 
the land ; the fish are perhaps not more 
numerous than the birds, who are there 
seen in thousands : of these only I shall 
describe a few of the most curious spe¬ 
cies. 
