382 ZOOLOGY 



liigher in the legs than anv member of the ox tribe; otherwise I should 

 compare its size to that of an ox. Like the giraffe, this ereatm-e has 

 onlv two hoofs, and no remains whatever of the other digits, whicli are 

 represented outwardly in tlie deer, oxen, and in most antelopes by the two 

 little "false hoofs" on either side of the third and fourth toes. 



The coloration of the okapi is quite extraordinary. The cheeks and jaws 

 are yellowish white, contrasting abru})tly with the dark-coloured neck. The 

 forehead is a deep red chestnut ; the large broad ears are of the same 

 tint, hinged, however, witli jet black. The forehead ranges between vinous 

 red and black in tint, and a black line follows the bridge of the nose 

 down to the nostrils. The muzzle is sepia-coloured, Ijut there is a faint 

 rim or moustache of reddish yellow hair round the upper lip. The neck, 

 slioulders, barrel, and back range in tone from se))ia and jet l)lack to rich 

 vinous red. The belly is lilackish. exce})t just under the knees. The tail 

 is bright chestnut red, with a small black tuft. The hindquarters, land 

 and fore legs are either snowy white or pale cream-colour, touched here 

 and there with orange. They are boldly marked, however, with purple- 

 black stripes and splodges, which gi\e that zebra-like appearance to the 

 limbs of the okapi that caused the first imperfect account of it to indicate 

 the discovery of a new striped horse. The soft parts of the animal being 

 as yet unknown, it cannot be stated positively that the okapi possesses a 

 prehensile tongue like the giraffe, but the long and flexible lips would 

 seem to atone for the very weak front teeth. It is probably by the lips 

 and tongue tliat the creature gathers the leaves on which it feeds, for 

 according to the accounts of the natives it lives entirely on foliage and 

 small twigs. Like ail living ruminants (except the camel), it has no front 

 teeth in the upper jaw. The molars are very like those of the giraffe. 



^fy first examination of the skull and skin of the okapi caused me to 

 name it tentatively Helladotheriani. The Helladotheriurii was a giraffe- 

 like animal that existed in the Tertiary Epoch in Greece, Asia jMinor, and 

 Lidia. Li India the Helladotheriurii attained a very great size, but the 

 Greek specimens were not quite as large as the modern giraffe. The 

 Helladotherium was hornless, like the okapi, and in another point it 

 resembled this animal, because the neck was not disproportionately long, 

 and the fore and hind limbs were nearly equal in length. The okapi bears 

 on the frontal and nasal bones three slight prominences, which may be 

 the commencement of horn-cores. These are covered outwardly with little 

 twists of hair. From the shape of the skull, which is straight and not 

 arched, Professor Eay Lankester argues that the okapi has never developed 

 horns. Though the okapi bears certain superficial resemblances to the 

 Helladotheriuin, it is probable, on the whole, that it comes nearest in 

 relationship to the giraffe, Heing, however, suthcientlv different from 



