The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 367, April 25, 1829 — John Shaqi
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 367, April 25, 1829Various
General
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 367, April 25, 1829
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
general contour of its body resembled the figure of a seal; its frame being
of the same description, though differently moulded. It was considerably
more 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.
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