The National tribune., 1890-04-24

have disappeared in great measure from these
localities.
In the Pacific the walrus is seen as far west
rs l5T" 80 d. long. According to most authori-
ties its numbers rapidly diminish along this
limit. and L0cbingten states that but small
herds have been discovered beyond Koljutschin
Island. Point Barrow, where Bceehy saw it in
1927, seems to he the eastern limit OF its range
on this continent, and at present these animals
do not pass south Of the Aleutan Isles. Where
soever they exist waruses are greRarious ami
mails. and without being migratory. in the
exact merning of that term, they are decidedly
nomadicr and continually wander among the
icefioeS OF shallow arctic seas in search Of
food. According to tho measurements Of
Elliott and others, an adult male is about
IL or 13 feet III extreme length, has "a
girth OF Ii feet around the shoulders and
weighs ton. Creatures OF such dimen-
sions, and who experience a climate and live
III medium such as they are accustomed 70,
require large quantities of carbouizcd aiment
to preserve their temperature. They are not
very particular, probably, about what they cat
in the way Of mollusks. but their principal food
is known to he clans, that arc raked from the
bottom by their tusks, organs which also, it is
said, assist the walrus in clambeYing over ice
fields. TO some extent these creatures consume
soa- weed, but in what quantity, or whether
habitually or not. tho writer is unable to say.
hesitation lasts about nine months, and
BIRTHS ARE SINGLE.
Late in the Spring, or at the commencement
or Summer. the herds betake themselves to
some remote coast region, and there their young
are born. Many persons assert that during the
fortnight spent in such places these animals do
not feed but it is not probable that this is lit
orally true. Every herd is guarded by senti-
nels who give the danger signal by striking
the warus next them with their tusks; each
repeats the warning. and thus the whole are
successfully put upon the alert. No one has
succeeded in keeping walruses long in captiv-
ity-thoy always die; but snch observations as
have been made upon them under these cir
cumstanCes seom to show that they possess con-
siderable intelligence On the other hand,
though walruses will stand by wounded COM
paniOns, and will fight on their own behalf
when the occasion demands, many accounts Of
their manner of conducting offensive move
monts apparently betray much bravadO and
little bravery. Hayes's graphic picture of his
boat when beset by an enraged herd, certainly
leaves tho impression that the animals were
either very cowardly or very foolish most
probably the latter, because, although almost
all wild beasts, walruses included, have intellect
enough to avoid appreciated peril, the latter
frequently act aggrossivcly. even against men.
with whose powers experience has acquainted
them. Numbers Of native hunters are killed
every year, and both Hall and Greedy recount
instances of their determined attack, even in
tho face of modern rifles. So far as the au-
thOr's recollection extends, none OF the records
of Attic exploration mention an instance of
death among strangers being caused by wal
rus; but it is quite evident that tho animal is
IN many ways a very formidable one, and if
white hunters have avoided the fate which has
overtaken so many Eskimos, this is most prob
ably due to their possession of arms against
which the animal has no chance. 4 boat pro-
tcctod by repeating rifles aud one whose best
weapon consists of Misunderstanding fint-lock
smoothbore, are a. differently situated, 80 far
IA danger from the attacks of walruses are con-
cerncd, as can we'll be imagined.
ITO be eOafiHltedl