112 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



these animals, bull giraffes are said to fight among 

 themselves, swinging their long necks like animated 

 flails, and striking each other violently with their 

 armed heads. Giraffes are very nervous, and hence 

 very awkward animals to transport, as they are 

 liable to break their necks by suddenly twisting 

 about in their travelling box ; it will be remembered 

 that some years ago Messrs. Barnum and Bailey 

 lost a fine specimen at that time one of the very 

 few in captivity from this cause. 



The above account practically completes our 

 present knowledge of the northern giraffe, con- 

 sidered as a distinct species. It is to be regretted 

 that comparatively little is known of its habits in 

 the wild state, so that one is compelled to turn to 

 menagerie specimens for information : these at 

 best amongst their artificial surroundings can give 

 but a poor idea of the real giraffe. An acclimatised 

 herd of camelopards, roaming half wild over some 

 English gentleman's park, would doubtless afford 

 the naturalist much instruction as to their habits ; 

 and it would indeed be thrilling to see a troop of 

 these beautiful giants striding over the greensward, 

 their towering forms darkening as they paced the 

 woodland glades, and glistening with a coppery 

 sheen as they swung out again into the hot 

 sunshine. Unfortunateiy " nature study" on so 

 costly though magnificent a scale is not as yet 

 included in the programme of learned societies : 



