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Show 1868.] DR. J. MURIE ON THE WALRUS. 67 4. On the Morbid Appearances observed in the Walrus lately living in the Society's Gardens. By J A M E S M U R I E, M.D., Prosector to the Zoological Society. With a Description of a N e w Species of Ascaris found in the Stomach; by Dr. B A I R D , F.L.S. In 1853 the Society obtained a very young Walrus (Trichechus rosmarus, Linn.), which specimen unfortunately only lived some few days after its arrival. From that time up to the 1st of November last (1867) no opportunity has offered of adding another example of this exceedingly interesting animal to the collection. When, therefore, a tolerably well-developed, although still young, male Sea- Horse was reported to have arrived safely in the Gardens, the curiosity .of the Members of the Society and the public generally naturally was aroused. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the number of visitors was great. The proper food of the Walrus in a state of nature has been variously stated by different naturalists. Some assert it to be a vegetable-eater ; others believe it to be entirely carnivorous; while a third notion has gained ground, that it m ay occasionally partake of food of the one kind or the other. Our Superintendent, therefore, under these circumstances felt a difficulty in deciding what might be the best food to give the creature so as to retain it in as good health as possible. The results of his experiments concerning suitable diet he has himself laid before the Society's Meetings on a previous occasion. I shall just reiterate his conclusions, namely :-It refused every kind of seaweed offered, but it greedily gulped up the soft bodies of Mya truncata and M. arenaria, which were its principal food, besides quantities of whelks, mussels, fish cut up in small strips, and the viscera of fish, these last, however, having previously been well washed and cleaned. It may be remarked that the young Walrus dissected by Prof. Owen in 1853 had been fed during its captivity on oatmeal, milk, and water. The specimen at present under consideration, when first captured, and on shipboard, had also received a certain allowance of the above, along with strips of fat pork. I have taken notice of the animal's food for the purpose of directing attention to the question, Whence were the ova of the Entozoa obtained that ultimately led to the Walrus's death? At the period of arrival in the Gardens the Walrus looked thin and lean; there was an amount of loose skin, however, which indicated that better regimen than that which he had lately been under would soon render the body plump and comparatively free from the very numerous skin-folds. These wrinkles, it may be observed, in several places met each other, so as to form a series of elongated diamond-shaped enclosures. It was early noticed that the conjunctivee were suffused and injected with blood; this gave the eyes a disagreeable appearance. |