238 COMMON niarisiE animai-s 



Giraffe {Giraffa camelojMrdalis). 



Wlien considering the ruminants we cannot ex- 

 clude the giraffe, so well known by its extraordinary 

 form which is so distinct from that of any other animal. 

 The very long neck has, however, only the normal 

 number of vertebras, i. e. seven. The small head is 

 raised 17 feet to 20 feet from the ground, and the 

 animal measures 10 feet at the withers. The body 

 is short, and slopes abruptly to the quarters, and the 

 hind legs are shorter than the fore-legs. The horns 

 are bony prominences which are covered with skin, 

 with a terminal tuft of hairs. There is a boss 

 of bone or incipient third horn. Both male 

 and female are armed with these horns, which are 

 never shed. The giraffe feeds principally on leaves of 

 trees, inaccessible to other animals. The colour of 

 its skin is pale yellow, with chocolate patches, but 

 the colour and arrangement of these patches vary in 

 the different species. The dappling colour is said to 

 make the animal practically invisible among the 

 mimosa bushes, upon which it feeds. 



It is to this dappling, too, that it owes its name 

 of camelopard. The Romans, who first brought 

 the animal to Europe, considered it to be the size of 

 a camel with the ferocity of a panther. In captivity 

 the giraffe is nervously irritable, and can give for- 

 midable blows with its horns, wielded by the power- 

 ful neck. 



The name '' Giraffe '' is an Arabic word, meaning 

 " one who walks swiftly. ^^ 



In walking the giraffe lifts both limbs on the- 



