306 GIRAFFE. 



greater facility. It is an animal of a mild and 

 harmless disposition, and when attacked, endea- 

 vours merely to save itself by flight; running, 

 according to Mons. Vaillant, with great swift- 

 ness, though in a somewhat peculiar and awkward 

 style, on account of the length of its neck and 

 breadth of its fore-parts compared with the hind. 

 Mons. Vaillant, informs us that he chased one on 

 full speed on horseback, but the animal, on turn- 

 ing a small hill, was soon out of sight : the dogs, 

 however, came up with him, and he was obliged 

 to stop and defend himself, which he endeavour- 

 ed to do by kicking in a forcible manner; and M. 

 Vaillant was so fortunate as to kill the animal 

 at a single shot. 



The male and female Camelopardi resemble 

 each other when young ; but as the animal ad- 

 vances in age, the spots on the male become dark- 

 brown, while those of the female continue of a fer- 

 ruginous cast. In both, however, some occa- 

 sional differences of shade take place, and the fe- 

 male, when very old, is said to acquire the dusky 

 shades of the male. The female has also a less 

 conspicuous tubercle on the forehead, and has 

 four teats, as in a cow. According to Mons. 

 Vaillant, the number of teeth in the Camelopardi 

 is as follows, viz. six grinders on each side, both 

 above and below : no front teeth in the upper jaw, 

 but eight in the lower. He adds, that the head is 

 beautiful ; the mouth small ; the eyes large and 

 animated. The flesh is said to be excellent food, 

 and the marrow white and firm. 



