ANIMAL GIANTS 15 



or person that approached it. It, however, as I feared, obstinately 

 refused all food, though I have no doubt it would have drunk milk 

 had we had a cow with us; so, knowing that to let it run loose 

 would be merely to condemn it to a lingering death from starvation, 

 or an equally painful one by the fangs of Lions or Hyaenas, I judged 

 it most merciful to put a bullet through its head, which I did, though 

 not without regret, for I should much have liked to rear it." 



GIRAFFE. — If the animals we have met with so far are dis- 

 tinguished by their enormous bulk, the next species of giant with 

 which we propose to make acquaintance, the Giraffe, is characterized 

 by its long neck and legs, small head and body. It must be a 

 fine sight to observe a herd of these beautiful African beasts in 

 their native wilds, and it is not at all difficult to imagine the 

 enthusiasm with which Mr. Selous writes of his first experience 

 with them. 



That first experience, however, nearly cost the big-game hunter 

 his life, for, becoming separated from the rest of the party through 

 an unfortunate collision with the trunk of a tree, and losing his 

 horse, he was stranded upon the veldt without food or shelter. He 

 tells how in Africa the burning heat of the day is succeeded by 

 Arctic cold at night, and how vainly he tried to close his eyes as 

 he lay upon a hastily-made bed of cut grass. Hungry, and 

 perishing with cold, it must have been no joke to lie on the veldt 

 homeless and alone, with the moon and the stars in the vault above, 

 and prowling Hyaenas passing close by and uttering cries that made 

 night hideous. 



Looking at the creatures shown in Figs. 8 and 9, one exhibiting 

 a specimen at the Zoo with body raised and neck outstretched, 

 and the other showing the beast straddling, one can faintly realize 

 the charm of watching a small herd in the pure unfettered wilds. 



They can travel at a remarkable speed, and it requires a good 

 horse to overtake them. Their tails are twisted over their backs 

 like corkscrews, and when seen from the rear, we are told, the 

 animals appear to be gliding or sailing along without any apparent 

 movement. Their mode of locomotion is a kind of gallop, for the 

 hind legs are straddled out at each step, and come (one on either 

 side) in front of the forelegs. 



The dappled hide of the Giraffe will naturally attract notice, 

 for the animal is beautifully marked and always appears wonder- 

 fully well groomed. It is, in many ways, one of the most striking 



