14.6 Zoological Society. 



are its principal food. Its conformation allows of its reaching their 

 tops. The one of -which I have previously spoken as ha\'ing been 

 killed by the Arabs measured 21 French feet in height from the 

 ears to the hoofs. Green herbs are also very agreeable to this ani- 

 mal ; but its structure does not admit of its feeding on them in the 

 same manner as our domestic animals, such as the Ox and the 

 Horse. It is obliged to straddle widely ; its two fore-feet are gra- 

 dually stretched widely apart from each other, and its neck being 

 then bent into a semicircular form, the animal is thus enabled to 

 collect the grass. But on the instant that any noise interrupts its 

 repast, the animal raises itself wath rapidity, and has recourse to im- 

 mediate flight. 



" The Giraffe eats with great delicacy, and takes its food leaf by 

 leaf, collecting them from the trees by means of its long tongue. It 

 rejects the thorns, and in this respect differs from the Camel. As 

 the grass on which it is now fed is cut for it, it takes the upper part 

 onlyt and chews it until it perceives that the stem is too coarse for 

 it. Great care is required for its preservation, and especially great 

 cleanliness. 



" It is extremely fond of society and is very sensible. I have 

 obser\'ed one of them shed tears when it no longer saw its com- 

 panions or the persons who were in the habit of attending to it. 



" I was so fortunate as to collect five individuals at Kordofan ; 

 but the cold weather of December, 1834, killed four of them in the 

 desert on the route to Dongolah, my point of departure for Bebbah. 

 Only one was preserved; this was the first specimen that I ob- 

 tained, and the one of which I have already spoken. After twenty- 

 two days m. the desert, I reached Dongolah on the 6th of January, 



1835. 



" Unwilling to return to Cairo without bemg really useful to the 

 Societ)^ and bemg actually at Dongolah, I determined on resuming 

 the pursuit of Giraffes. I remained for three months in the desert, 

 crossing it in all directions. Arabs in whom I could confide accom- 

 panied me, find our course was through districts destitute of everjr- 

 thing. We had to dread the Arabs of Darfour, of w^hich country I 

 saw°he first mountain. We were successful in our researches. I 

 obtained three Giraffes, smaller than the one I ah-eady possessed. 

 Experience suggested to me the means of preserving them. 



" Another trial was resented for me : that of transporting the 

 animals, by bark, from Wadi Haifa to Cairo, Alexandria, and Malta. 

 Providence has enabled me to surmount all difficulties. The most 

 that they suffered was at sea, during their passage, which lasted 

 twenty-four days, with the weather very tempestuous. 



" I arrived at Malta on the 21st of November. We were there 

 detained in quarantine for twenty-five days, after which, through the 

 kind care of Mr. Bourchier, these valuable animals were placed m a 

 good situation, where nothing is wanting for their comfort. With 

 the view of preparing them for the temperature of the country to 

 which they will eventually be removed, I have not thought it ad- 

 visable that they should be clothed. During the last week the 



