THE GIRAFFE. 13 



of a sweet disposition, never manifesting the least sentiment 

 of anger or of malice. She distinguishes the Arab who is in 

 the habit of giving her milk and grain, but has not any par- 

 ticular affection for him. She lets every one approach her 

 who comes to see her, but does not like to be touched ; and 

 it is only when afraid of something, or when teased too much, 

 that she defends herself by striking out her fore- or hind-legs. 

 QC She often licks the hands and clothes of the Arab who has 

 the care of her. Sometimes she will use the same familiarity 

 with strangers, and frequently she smells at the persons who 

 approach her. She seems fearful, attentive to every noise, 

 but at the same time is not disquieted by any number of per- 

 sons who may come to see her. When horses have been 

 brought to her, she appears to view them with pleasure, to 

 regard them attentively, to follow them with her eyes as they 

 recede from her, and to seem to have a wish to go after them : 

 but the horses are uneasy at the sight of her ; they stamp 

 with their feet, and bound off the moment the rein is slack- 

 ened. Cows which have seen her for the first time, show no 

 sign of fear. 



" Our young giraffe likes the broad daylight, and its stable 

 is lighted with two windows and a large glass door. It is 

 under the same roof with the two cows that supply it with 

 milk, and two antelopes of large size, and is separated from 

 two strong horses only by a boarded partition. It is fat and 

 in good condition. Since its departure from the Lazaretto 

 it has acquired more gaiety and vigour. It has never been 

 heard to utter any sound. 



" One may say that the giraffe has nothing elegant or 

 graceful in the detail of its forms ; its short body, its high and 

 closely approximated legs, the excessive length of its neck, 

 the declivity of its back, its ill -rounded crupper, and its long 

 and naked tail, — all these things contrast together in a manner 

 which offends the sight: it seems ill put together, ill balanced 

 on its feet ; and yet we are seized with astonishment at its 

 aspect, and acknowledge it beautiful without being able to 

 say why, — only, perhaps, because it is extraordinary, and in 

 opposition with all the animals we are acquainted with. It 

 is very remarkable that, after having considered it attentively, 

 we nevertheless can preserve but an uncertain recollection of 

 its carriage and proportions, which is the reason, I think, 

 that one loves, in general, to see it often ; and every time we 

 see it, it gives rise to some new remarks. " 



The cloven-footed quadrupeds which chew the cud, form a 

 distinct and well-marked group. The sacred historian and 

 lawgiver of the Jews indicates them by their most natural 



