THE NORTHERN GIRAFFE IOI 



tails as shown in the figure of the southern 

 species published in this work. Until within the 

 last few years it was generally supposed that only 

 one species of giraffe was distributed throughout 

 Africa : but it has become evident that at any rate 

 the Somali species (Giraffa reticulata] is a distinct 

 form. G. reticulata may be described as a 

 chestnut-coloured animal covered with a network 

 of white lines, its ornamentation thus differing 

 widely from that of ordinary giraffes. 



It is now also considered possible that the 

 ordinary giraffes may be separable into a northern 

 form not occurring south of the Tana River, and 

 a southern form originally extending from that 

 boundary as far as the Orange River in Cape 

 Colony : the western giraffe (G. peralta] may 

 perhaps also be distinct. Assuming that the 

 northern and southern forms are separable, the 

 chief differences between them may be formulated 

 as follows : 



Northern giraffe Southern giraffe 



(Giraffa camelopardalis L.) (Giraffa capensis Less.) 



(a) Differences in structure. 



1. Muzzle broad. Muzzle narrow and tapering. 



2. Thirdhorn3-5in.long,incentre No thir ? horn '. but a ded 



of forehead eminence in centre of fore- 



head. 



3. Skull of northern giraffe Skull of southern giraffe much 



largely covered with osseous smoother, 



excrescences. 



4. The dried skull of G. camelo- The dried skull of G. capensis has 



pardalis has the posterior the posterior edge of the 



edge of the bony palate bony palate pointed. 



rounded. 



