140 NATUEE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



that " unknown horn of Africa," hitherto ahuost 

 unexplored, and now found to be rich in new species, 

 to produce even a new giraffe. Major C. E. Wood 

 of the North Staffordshire Regiment, while hunting 

 in 1893 in that country, shot a female giraffe, the 

 colouring and marking of which differ widely from 

 the clear dappling of the giraffes so long known to 

 science. In this new form, the skin of which has 

 been brought home, instead of the patches of darker 

 coloration being clearly and widely defined, the 

 whole body colouring of the animal appears of a rich 

 chestnut, through which run thin and minute lines of 

 creamy white in hexagonal and sexagonal patterns. 

 I have seen and handled this new skin at Mr. Rowland 

 Ward's, and it certainly presents a vast contrast to the 

 skins of all South African giraffes, and to others from 

 Sennaar, the Soudan, and elsewhere. At a short 

 distance the Somaliland giraffe appears to be en- 

 tirely chestnut-coloured ; at the same distance the 

 ordinary species of giraffe would appear distinctly 

 mottled. Major Wood saw seven giraffes of this 

 new variety — it will scarcely be accounted a new 

 species — and we may hope not long hence to have in 

 England further specimens. It is strange, indeed, 

 that this new form should have remained so long 

 unknown, considering how eagerly Africa has been 

 ransacked. 



The ancients, who knew this creature by the name 



