330 AFRICAN HEAVY GAME ANIMALS. 



of the peculiarities noticeable among them, is the apparent 

 disproportion in height between their fore and hind 

 quarters. Some of these African game animals stand 

 so much higher at the shoulder than they do behind, 

 that their general appearance exhibits a striking pecu- 

 liarity, entirely special to themselves. We may men- 

 tion the giraffe (Camelopardalis Giraffd) and the harte- 

 beest (Alcelaphus Caama), as leading examples of this 

 type. In the case of the giraffe, however, it is pro- 

 bable that this exceeding peculiarity of bodily shape 

 has in the course of ages been attained, on account 

 of this animal being a tree-feeder, and constantly in 

 the habit of reaching up to great heights, to browse 

 upon the twigs and foliage of branches above its head. 

 It is evident that its immensely long neck, and apparently 

 disproportionately high fore-quarters, would thus be- 

 come of great assistance in enabling the animal to 

 obtain its food in this manner: which a full-grown 

 giraffe could easily do at heights of at least twenty 

 feet above the ground.* 



The giraffe almost always frequents extensive tracts 

 of dry bush forest, where ancient trees of nobler growth 

 rise at intervals above the general level of the thorny 

 scrub. All evidence goes to show that on account of 

 the wonderful way in which the colours of their hides 

 match the tints of the surrounding jungle, and the 

 columnar appearance of their immensely long necks, 

 which are easily mistaken for the trunks of dead trees, 

 giraffes are often extremely difficult to catch sight of, 

 when standing motionless among the bush ; while their 

 great height enables them to detect the approach of 



* The measured heights for large male giraffes vary from eighteen 

 to nineteen feet, when standing in their natural position. 



