Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/328

WALRUS. characteristic of the family is the possession of a pair of enormous tusks (the canine teeth), which project downward from the upper jaw, and are solid ivory, hard and more yellowish than those of elephants. Those of the female are longer (reaching sometimes 30 inches) than the male's, but his are stronger and thicker. For the support of these huge teeth—which are used as pick-axes in digging up mollusks, for aid in clinihing upon ice or rocks, and as weapons—the anterior part of the skull is greatly enlarged and strengthened, ilost of the'other teeth fall out, so that an old walrus has in the upper jaw, besides the tusks, only two incisors and three pairs of molars, and in the lower jaw no incisors, two canines, and four pairs of molars. These animals are confined to northern shores, and two species are known—the Atlantic (Odobœnus or Trichecus



rosmarus), and the Pacific walrus (Odobœnus obsesus). The latter is rather larger and more obese than its congener, and the tusks are usually longer and thinner. The Atlantic walrus, the 'rosmarus' or 'morse' of old writers, is found from the archipelago north of America eastward to about the mouth of the Yenisei, and in Hudson Bay. Labrador, and Greenland, but it no longer, as formerly, comes south to Nova Scotia or Southern Norway, and is scarce around Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla. The Pacific walrus is no longer seen south of the Aleutian Islands, and does not pass eastward of Point Barrow, nor much west of Bering Strait.

Walruses pass most of their time in the ocean near shore, resting in crowded bands on the floating ice, and do not often go ashore except in early sununer, when the females produce their one or two young. The period of gestation is said to be about nine months. Their fond consists mainly of clams, dug with the tusks: seaweed is also eaten. The flesh is an important factor in the sustenance of the natives of Arctic consts, but is not well liked by civilized men. The diminution of the Pacific walrus has been a very serious deprivation to the natives of Alaska and the neighboring part of Siberia, threatening famine there. Their greatest natural enemy is the polar bear. The oil yielded is inferior in both quantity and quality to that of seals; but the thick hide is used largely in Russia and Scandinavia as sole-leather and for harness and ship-rigging, while the ivory is valuable. This commercial importance has led to a steady hunting of the animal everywhere, and the race is rapidly diminishing in all accessible parts of its habitat. Occasionally a young one is captured alive, and shows docility and some intelligence, but none have long survived captivity.

Consult Allen, North American Pinnipeds (Washington, 1880). which contains an exhaustive treatment and bibliography of the subject.

 WALSALL, wol'sal. A manufacturing mar- ket town, numicipal and Parliamentai'y borough, in Staffordshire, England, on an eminence near the Tame, eight miles northwest of Birmingham (Map: England, E 4). The town has fine eccle- siastical and municipal buildings, gas, electric lighting, and modern sewerage works, and mar- kets and a free library; it has built artisans' dwellings and it owns the tramways and other works. Coal, iron, limestone, and clay are ob- tained in the neighborhood ; tanning, malting, and the manufacture of hardware and saddlery are the industries. Walsall was fortified early in the tenth century and received cliarters from Edward III. and Henry IV., confirming prior royal privileges. Population, in 1891, 71,790; in* 1901, 80.440. Consult Willmore, History of Wiilsall (1887). ■ WALSH, Robert (1784-18.59). An American author. He was born in Baltimore, was educated at the Jesuit College of Georgetown, and for a short time pi'acticed law. From 1811 to 1813 he published the first quarterly in the United States, the American Kciiew of History and Politics, revived by him in 1827-37. From 1821 to 1837 he edited" the Satianal Gazette, and in 1822 the Jluseum of Foreign Literature and Science. In 1837 he removed to Paris, where from 184.) to 1S.")1 he was I'nited States consul. He contributed to many publications of the time, and his books include a Letter on the Genius and Uisposition of the French Gorcrnment (1810), Correspondence Respecting liussia (1813), an Fssay on the Future State of Europe (1813), and An Appeal from the Judgments of Great ISritain (1819). WALSH, TiioM.vs (17.30-59). An English Wesleyan Methodist preacher. He was born at Ballylin, near Limerick, Ireland. His parents were Roman Catholics, but in 1748 he united with the established Church; two years later, jiidnenced liy the ]ircacliing of Wesley's itinerants, he united with tlu> Methodists. He began to preach inuniMliafely :ind was very successful. In 17.53 Wesley called liim to London and here his eloquence ;ig;iin lirouglit great success. While in London he became jin enthusiastic student of Greek and Hebrew. Ih a short time he taught llcluew to juivate students from file I'niversity nf Cambridge. His sermons were edited by .Tamea Morgan (London. 17fi41. who also puldislied his Life (il>.. 1702: rc|Mildislica. Xcw York. 1843). 