II BUSHMEN AND GIRAFFES 27 



In certain parts of the country frequented by giraffes 

 in Southern Africa, large camel-thorn trees {Acaa'a 

 giraffae) grow either singly or a few together 

 amongst a wide expanse of wait-a-bit-thorn scrub, 

 which is from 6 to 12 feet high. From time to 

 time these large trees die and decay, until nothing 

 is left but a tall straight stem, standing up like a tele- 

 graph pole (only a good deal thicker) amongst the 

 surrounding scrub. When, whilst following on giraffe 

 spoor through s^'ch country, something suddenly 

 comes in view protruding from the bush, perhaps a 

 mile ahead, the Bushmen will stop and take a good 

 look at it. Of course at a very great distance it 

 is impossible for even a Bushman to distinguish 

 between the tall straight stem of a dead tree stand- 

 ing up out of low bush and the neck of a solitary old 

 bull giraffe. But if the latter, it is sure soon to 

 move, unless it is standing watching its human 

 enemies approaching, in which case it will not be 

 very far away, and I have never known a Bushman 

 to mistake a giraffe for a tree at any reasonable 

 distance. 



As regards the coloration of the species of giraffe 

 inhabiting South and South- Western Africa, it assimi- 

 lates very well with its surroundings, when amongst 

 trees and bush ; but as giraffes spend a great deal 

 of their time passing through open stretches of 

 country on their way from one feeding-ground to 

 another, they are often very conspicuous animals. 



With respect to the Somali giraffe {Giraffa reticu- 

 lata), a photograph taken by the photographer who 

 accompanied one of Lord Delamere's expeditions, 

 showing some of these animals feeding amongst 

 mimosa trees, gives the impression of a most 

 marvellous harmonisation of colour and arrange- 

 ment of marking with their surroundings. But I 

 cannot help thinking that the facts of the case have 

 been very much exaggerated in this photograph. 



