556 GIRAFFES. 



GIRAFFES. 



TALLEST of all earthly dwellers, the GIRAFFE erects its stately head far above any animal 

 that walks the face of the globe. It is an inhabitant of various parts of Africa, and is evi- 

 dently a unique being, comprising in itself an entire tribe. The color of the coat is slightly 

 different in the specimens which inhabit the northern and the southern portions of Africa, the 

 southern animal being rather darker than its northern relative. 



The height of a full-grown male Giraffe is from eighteen to twenty feet, the female being 

 somewhat less in her dimensions. The greater part of this enormous stature is obtained by 

 the extraordinarily long neck, which is nevertheless possessed of only seven vertebrae, as in 

 ordinary animals. Those bones are, however, extremely elongated, and their articulation is 

 admirably adapted to the purpose which they are called upon to fulfil. The back of the Giraffe 

 slopes considerably from the shoulders to the tail, and at first sight the fore-legs of the animal 

 appear to be longer than the hinder limbs. The legs themselves are, however, of equal length, 

 and the elevation of the shoulder is due to the veiy great elongation of the shoulder-blades. 

 Upon the head are two excrescences which resemble horns, and are popularly called by that 

 name. They are merely growths or developments of certain bones of the skull, somewhat 

 similar to the bony cores oq which the hollow horns of the oxen and antelopes are set. These 

 quasi horns are covered with skin, and have on their summits a tuft of dark hair. On the 

 forehead, and nearly between the eyes, a third bony projection is seen, occupying the same 

 position that was traditionally accredited to the horn of the unicorn. 



The singular height of this animal is entirely in accordance with its habits and its mode 

 of acquiring food. As the creature is accustomed to feed upon the leaves of trees, it must 

 necessarily be of very considerable stature to be able to reach the leaves on which it browses, 

 and must also be possessed of organs by means of which it can select and gather such por- 

 tions of the foliage as may suit its palate. The former object is gained by the great length 

 of the neck and legs, and the latter by the wonderful development of the tongue, which is 

 so marvellously formed that it is capable of a considerable amount of prehensile power, 

 and can be elongated or contracted in a very wonderful manner. Large as is the animal, it 

 can contract the tip of its tongue into so small a compass that it can pass into the pipe 

 of an ordinary pocket-key, while its prehensile powers enable its owner to pluck any 

 selected leaf with perfect ease. In captivity the Giraffe is rather apt to make too free a 

 use of its tongue, such as twitching the artificial flowers and foliage from ladies' bonnets, 

 or any similar freak. 



For grazing upon level ground the Giraffe is peculiarly unfitted, and never attempts 

 that feat excepting when urged by hunger or some very pressing cause. It is, however, 

 perfectly capable of bringing its mouth to the ground, although with considerable effort and 

 much straddling of the fore-legs. By placing a lump of sugar on the ground, the Giraffe 

 may be induced to lower its head to the earth, and to exhibit some of that curious mix- 

 ture of grace and awkwardness which characterizes this singular animal. 



In its native country its usual food consists of the leaves of a kind of acacia, named the 

 Kameel-dorn, or Camel-thorn (Acacia giraffce). The animal is exceedingly fastidious in its 

 appetite, and carefully rejects every thorn, scrupulously plucking only the freshest and green- 

 est leaves. When supplied with cut grass, the Giraffe takes each blade daintily between its 

 lips, and nibbles gradually from the top to the stem, after the manner in which we eat aspar- 

 agus. As soon as it has eaten the tender and green portion of the grass, it rejects the 

 remainder as unfit for camelopardine consumption. Hay, carrots, onions, and different vege- 

 tables form its principal diet while it is kept in a state of captivity. 



The Giraffe is a gentle and playful animal, readily attaching itself to its companions or 

 its keepers, and trying to attract attention by sundry little coquetries It is full of curiosity, 

 and seems to be greatly gratified by the advent of many visitors, whose costume and general 

 appearance it investigates with an air of great interest. There is something peculiarly mild 



