ore bulky in proportion to its length, its chest and back more elevated,
its fore flippers thicker and more rounded, and its hind quarters less
tapering to the tail. Altogether, it impressed upon the mind a strong idea
of a formidable monster, in spite of its relatively diminutive head; for
its fearful tusks, and thick-set projecting whiskers, gave its visage a
most truculent expression; and with its grotesquely fashioned ponderous
carcass, provided with fin feet of strange formation, seemed to mark it as
a personification of one of the fabulous conceptions of mythology.

The morse is said to roar or bellow loudly, but the animal we slew made no
outcry, for the half sneezing, half snorting sounds it uttered I conceive
to have been the consequence of its hasty dive, which had apparently
prevented its taking in sufficient breath, and occasioned it to admit some
water down its windpipe. Nevertheless, the immense size of its larynx or
thropple, which William dissected out and brought with him to England,
seems to indicate vast powers of voice in this animal; but I am at a loss
to conjecture why it should be provided either with this unusual capability
of "blaring," or with the exceedingly strong whiskers that arm its muzzle,
organs which, though nominally of little or no importance except in
Bond-street, must really be of consequence to the walrus, since their roots
are imbedded in two thick cushions of tough blubbery substance, so large as
to give a marked character to the countenance, and evidently pointing out
the growth and nourishment of these whiskers as a matter of some
consideration in the eye of nature.

* * * * *

SEAL'S WEDDING.

Just as we had made fast to a floe, to take in water from a bright blue
pool which slept on its hollow surface, I was called upon deck to witness
"a seal's wedding." This ceremony was performed in a manner which, however
nuptial it may have appeared to seamen, was not quite in accordance with my
ideas of the hymeneal contract. A "seal's wedding" seems to be a seal's
dance, or a combination of gambols, which these animals act together, while
swimming rapidly forward in company, leaping above the surface of the
water, rolling, tumbling, going "tail up" after each other, and enacting a
thousand wild freaks, as unexpected from such grave-looking and
clumsy-built harlequins as can be imagined. Yet why should not the solemn
visaged, double-chinned phoca par