290 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



therefore are supposed to be perfectly mute, even when 

 wild. 



I was living in Paris when the giraffe sent to that 

 country arrived. She and her keeper, Ati, landed at 

 Bordeaux, amidst most enthusiastic acclamations, which 

 accompanied them all the way to the metropolis. A 

 deputation from each large town through which sho 

 passed, formed of the municipal authorities, met her ; 

 and one of the most learned savants went all the way 

 from the Jardin des Plantes, and accompanied her on 

 her triumphal march. * La giraffe,' however, did not 

 appreciate these honours, and she was often impatient 

 under the etiquette imposed on her. On one occasion 

 she broke loose from her cavalcade, Ati and all, and 

 dashing among the horsemen, scattered them right and 

 left, some on and some off their steeds. A dignified 

 mayor lay in the dust, and by his side rolled the pains- 

 taking savant who performed so long a journey in her 

 service. The enthusiasm did not abate when she 

 reached her destination. Thirteen thousand more than 

 the usual weekly number passed over the Pont d'Aus- 

 terlitz alone ; and as the public curiosity did not but 

 increase for six weeks, steps were obliged to be taken 

 to prevent the multitude from pressing upon her. There 

 were several natives of the East at that time in the 

 French capital ; and they went among others to see her. 

 The moment she beheld their turbans, she stretched her 

 neck out and licked their foreheads, no doubt recog- 

 nising their head-dresses. Her love for roses was very 

 great ; and she eagerly snatched them from those who 

 carried or wore them, to their great astonishment ; for 

 few could calculate on the distance which she could 

 reach. I went one day into her park, holding some 



