THE BIG GAME OF AFRICA 



to feed more easily upon the mimosa tree without getting 

 stung by the sharp thorns. 



One of the most curious-looking sights in Africa is a 

 herd of giraffes trotting off with a sort of rocking-horse, 

 single-foot motion, with their enormous necks carried a 

 trifle lower than the line of their backs. The animals stand 

 much higher over the shoulders than over the pelvis. Al- 

 though absolutely harmless and mild-tempered, the giraffe 

 is, on account of its unusual height, sometimes a " menace " 

 to civilization in British East Africa, for it has repeatedly 

 happened that a big bull-giraffe has forgotten to " duck " 

 when crossing the telegraph line along the Uganda Rail- 

 road, broken the wire with his lofty head, and thus dis- 

 turbed communication. 



The great height of the giraffe enables him to eat the 

 young shoots and leaves off the topmost branches of the 

 mimosa and other trees, which constitute his chief 

 " menu " ; but it makes it, on the other hand, very awkward 

 for him to partake of the " salt licks " on the ground, or 

 drink from a shallow water hole or stream, for he has 

 then to spread out his front legs so far, to be able to reach 

 the water, or the ground, that it takes him a considerable 

 time to get up and away again if disturbed. 



Fortunately for the giraffe, he seems to need but little 

 water, and in this respect he is very much like the camel, 

 which animal reminds one more of the giraffe than any 

 other living creature. The natives of different districts 

 in British East Africa have assured me that the giraffe 

 can go for many weeks and even months without drink- 

 ing, and this partly explains the fact that he is mostly 

 found in dry and practically waterless countries. Such 



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