358 GIRAFFE GROUP 



1904, vol. i. pi. ix., but such a difference may be mainly due to the 

 immaturity of the latter. A constant distinction between the two 

 races would appear to be the much greater number of the spots on the 

 back and flanks of peralta, these spots becoming much broken up on 

 the thighs. The spots are divided by a light network, of which the 

 strands are much broader on the fore than on the hind quarters. On 

 the hind -quarters the colour of the network is whity brown, but it 

 darkens anteriorly. 



The Nigerian giraffe is thus nearly allied to the Nubian race, from 

 which it is distinguished by its generally paler colour (especially on 

 the head) and more numerous and differently arranged spots. The 

 distinctness of this pale-coloured giraffe from other representatives of 

 the group is thus sufficiently apparent. The contrast is greatest 

 between this race and the Baringo or " black giraffe," in which the bulls 

 are extremely dark. It would be interesting to ascertain whether the 

 countries respectively inhabited by these two races present features 

 which would accord with these distinct types of colouring. 



Very distinct is the Baringo giraffe {G. c. rotJiscJiildi), from the 

 Lake Baringo district and thence eastwards to Mount Elgon, both of 

 which localities lie less than i° north of the equator. This is a 

 three-horned giraffe in which the sexes, in the early adult condition at 

 least, are markedly different as regards both the form and the colour 

 of the spots, with the lower part of the legs pure white and unspotted, 

 a triangular white area in the neighbourhood ot the ear, the spots in 

 adult bulls large and very dark-coloured, showing a tendency to split 

 up into stars, as indicated by lighter tripartite radiating lines in the 

 larger ones, and the light interspaces yellowish fawn, forming narrow 

 network-lines on the body, but becoming much broader on the neck, 

 where the spots assume a more irregular and somewhat jagged contour. 

 Above the knees and hocks the spots are chestnut, these chestnut spots 

 extending higher up on the hind than on the fore limbs. Sides of 

 face fully spotted with black. In females the spots are much more 

 irregular, jagged, and star-like, and are reddish chestnut in colour 

 upon a light orange -fawn ground. The light areas on the neck 

 are very wide, and the spots on the legs very small, while the white 

 area round the ear is small ; and the sides of the face are sparsely 

 spotted. 



Five horns are generally or invariably present in old bulls, owing 

 to the development of the posterior, or occipital, pair. 



The type specimen of this race is a mounted adult bull in the 

 British Museum, shot by Major P. H. G. Powell-Cotton on the 



