372 GIRAFFE GROUP 



teeth are for the purpose of aiding this action. For defence these 

 animals depend mainly on sight and speed ; but when wounded they 

 are reported to strike out with their fore-feet in a highly dangerous 

 manner ; and the same action may perhaps be employed when the 

 bulls are fighting with one another. 



The following account (which refers in part to the Somali species) 

 of the habits and mode of occurrence of giraffes in East Africa is 

 abbreviated from one furnished by Mr. A. H. Neumann :— - 



" As a rule, giraffes prefer rather open bush-country. They are 

 particularly numerous in the neighbourhood of the Gwaso Nyiro river, 

 a little north of Kenia, where the character of the country appears just 

 suited to their wants ; and I have there seen large herds (containing 

 forty, fifty, or more individuals) on both sides of the river. Occasionally, 

 however, giraffes are found in pretty thick bush — I have come on them 

 in such situations a little north of the Tana river, and sometimes 

 elsewhere ; and in these instances it is wonderful to see how such 

 ungainly creatures can gallop through wood so dense that one has 

 difficulty in running one's self, ducking their long necks to pass under 

 the branches as they plunge along with their rocking-horse gait. But 

 although they may enter dense bush in their search for some favourite 

 food, they do not penetrate far into such covert. So much is this the 

 case that, when traversing thickly wooded country, if giraffe-spoor is 

 seen, it is a sign that more open ground is not far off; and I have, on 

 occasion, after a long weary struggle through tiresome scrub, hailed 

 with delight such evidence that we should soon reach easier going. 



" The cows sometimes get very fat, and then their meat is un- 

 surpassed by that of any African animal, and none will keep so long. 

 It is hardly credible that, even when travelling in Equatorial Africa, if 

 properly treated, it will remain quite good for a week easily in fine 

 weather, and even longer sometimes, for it seems rather to dry up than 

 decay. An old bull is quite uneatable. 



" These animals are very difficult of approach, in a general way, 

 for they are extremely keen-sighted, and their towering height enables 

 them to command a wide view. When several are together, as is 

 generally the case, they are especially hard to stalk, since it becomes 

 impossible to keep out of sight of all those different pairs of eyes, up 

 among the tree-tops, at once ; and if, as sometimes happens, they are 

 accompanied by other game, the difficulties are still further increased. 

 It is then only by the most careful, pains-taking stalk, exercising every 

 precaution, regardless of sun, thorns, and other inconveniences, and very 

 likely spending a long time over it, that the hunter can hope to arrive 



