iQl RUMINANT1A. 



nent horns, like those of the Antelope, but consisting of two 

 porous, bony substances, about three inches long, with which 

 the top of the head is armed, placed just above the ears, and 

 crowned with a thick tuft of stiff upright hairs; a considerable 

 protuberance also rises in the middle of the forehead, between 

 the eyes. By some, these horns muffled with skin and hair, are 

 said to be "useless as instruments of defence," others say, 

 " We have seen them wielded by the males against each other 

 with fearful and reckless force." The Giraffe does not butt by 

 depressing and suddenly elevating the head ; but strikes the cal- 

 lous obtuse extremity of the horns against the object of his attack 

 with a sidelong sweep of the neck. The imperfection of the horns 

 has been plausibly ascribed "to the state of the circulation of the 

 blood in the arteries of the skull." The long neck is supposed 

 to impede the circulation, so that the vital stream ascends with 

 difficulty, it rises slowly, in more moderate quantity, and is 

 " inadequate for a supply of osseous matter, remarkable either for 

 its abundance, or its rapid elaboration." Who does not see the 

 wisdom of this ordering? What could the long-necked Cam- 

 elopard do with the ponderous horns of the Moose, or the Wa- 

 pite ? " It is not for nothing that the neck is elongated, that the 

 head is light, and the tongue made flexible; it is not without 

 design that the horns are rudimentary ; for such modifications 

 the instincts and the habits of the creature demand ; the one part 

 involves the other." Professor Owen has noticed a further 

 beautiful provision in this animal, which is, that its nostrils are 

 provided with cutaneous sphincter (Gr. aqr^yw, sphingo, to con- 

 strain ) muscles, and can be shut at will, like the eyes. He 

 supposes that the object of this mechanism, is to keep out the 

 sand when the storms of the desert arise. 



The hair of the Giraffe is short and close; the ground color 

 of a light grayish fawn, marked with numerous triangular spots, 

 with a darker hue, less regularly shaped on the sides than on 

 the neck and shoulders. The Northern variety of the animal is 

 of a paler color than the Southern. 



The eyes of the Giraffe are so placed that he can see much of 

 what is passing on all sides, and even behind, without turning the 

 head. Hence it is difficult to approach him ; and when surprised 

 or run down, he directs most accurately the rapid storm of kicks 

 with which his defence is made. Ordinarily, however, this ani- 

 mal seeks safety in flight. Its motion is extremely rapid, espe- 

 cially along rising ground ; but cannot be maintained for a 

 sufficient time to enable it to escape from the Arab mounted on 

 his long-winded steed. The pace is an amble; the animal 



