506 



RU3IINANTS. 



The Giraffe (Camelopardalis) is distinguished from all other 

 Ruminants by the horns, which are of a conical shape, and always 

 covered with a hairy skin ; they are never shed, and exist in both 

 sexes. This animal is destined to browse upon the foliage and 

 young shoots of trees at a height far greater than any other animal 

 can reach. When standing on the ground in its wild state, it mea- 



FlG. 431.— GIRAFFK. 



sures, when full-grown, seventeen feet from the top of its head to 

 the soles of its forefeet. At first view, its forelegs appear twice as 

 long as the Hinder : but this results chiefly from the extraordinary 

 height of the shoulders. It is of a gentle disposition, and lives on 

 the leaves of the acacia trees in the south of Africa, which it gatliers 

 by means of its prehensile tongue. 



The Stags ' Cervus). Tiiis genus includes all Ruminants whose 

 males have deciduous horns on the head ; but these horns are (with 

 the single exception of the Reindeer i always wanting in the female. 

 All these animals are extremely fleet in running; tlieir limbs are 

 long and slender, the body light, the coat clean and shining; in 



