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Trained Walrus
OFFER to and cried in such a pitiable way that the our young other animals became excited and frightfriends, in ened. Many who have heard the pitiful the opposite il cries of the Walrus declare they never lustration, a would have believed that an animal was true represen- able to utter such sounds of bereavement tation of a and distress. This changed, however, as Walrus, nine soon as the keeper returned, and from a months old, and distance announced his arrival by saying, his keeper, a young mulatto, "Here, boy, here!" Instantly the Walrus who has successfully trained showed all imaginable signs of joy and the otherwise shy animal. The delight, and, like a child, clung to his clumsy body reminds one of a side, as soon as he entered the cage. seal, though it is not gray or spotted, but Natural history tells that the old Walbrown and glossy. This young Walrus rus tenderly and lovingly takes care of its was exhibited at the aquarium in the young, even risking its life to protect city of Berlin, Germany, and astonished theirs. In all probability, this is true, as all by its wonderful docility and intellect. was apparent from the tender love with At the command of its keeper it which this young Walrus clung to the climbed on a common bent-wood chair, man who was its kind keeper and best and with a loud bark demanded the piece friend. of fish, which the keeper held in his hand. It adroitly caught the fish, thrown by the keeper, and showed its gratitude floating on a mass of ice off the northern by heartily sneezing. part of the continent of America. "They The following is Captain Cook's description of a herd of Walruses, that were seen Sitting on the chair it saluted the spec- lie (says he) in herds, of many hundreds, tators by waving its right arm, and then upon the ice, huddling over one another at a given word jumped into a large pool like swine; and roar or bray so loud, that of water, coming out again at another in the night, or in foggy weather, they command, and walking up and down its gave us notice of the vicinity of the ice cage, so that the spectators could see and before we could see 11. We never found even touch it, but always fixing its eyes the whole herd asleep, some being always on its keeper. There was great friend- upon the watch. These, at the approach ship between the two, and whenever of the boat, would wake those next to the keeper remained absent for a longer them; and the alarm being thus gradtime than usual, the Walrus moanedually communicated, the whole herd would be awakened. But they were is often found in large numbers, and it seldom in a hurry to get away, till after often happens that sailors are compelled they had been once fired at.
They then would tumble over one another into the the sea, in the utmost confusion. And if we did not at the first discharge, kill those we fired at, we generally lost them, though mortally wounded. Vast numbers of these animals would follow and come close up to the boats; but the flash of a musket in the pan, or even the pointing of a musket at them, would send them down in an instant.
The female.
Walrus will defend her offspring 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 be killed, the other is a certain to defend themselves against these mon-- prey." In Northern Oceans the Walrus sters of the sea. On many of the explor-- ing expeditions which have sailed in the sometimes there have been fierce encounperilous search for a Northwest passage, ters between them and the explorers who these animals have been met with, and have invaded their territory.
