24 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



The building has been designed to meet the wants of 

 giraffes and large African antelopes of all kinds, more 

 especially those which require 60 of heat in winter. Until 

 the Elephant House is completed, the great pachyderms 

 elephant, rhinoceros and hippopotamus will be quartered 

 here. 



The Antelope House is 142 feet long by 78 feet in ex- 

 treme width. In architectural style it conforms with the 

 other large animal buildings of the Park. Both for visitors 

 and for its animals, it is roomy and well lighted, and in 

 every way fitted to house and display a large and valuable 

 collection of tropical hoofed animals. It contains 24 in- 

 terior compartments, directly connected with 23 open-air 

 yards for use in mild weather. This building was com- 

 pleted and occupied on October 17, 1903, and with all its 

 surrounding improvements has cost about $80,000. 



As the visitor will observe from the following enumera- 

 tion of species, our collection of large and rare African and 

 Asiatic antelopes is very rich. Unfortunately, until the 

 completion of the Elephant House and Zebra Houses re- 

 leases the apartments now occupied by the large pachy- 

 derms and equines, a number of species which belong in the 

 Antelope House must temporarily be quartered elsewhere. 



The Nubian, or Three-Horned Giraffes, (Giraffa camclo- 

 pardalis), are at present the most important and interesting 

 animals in the building. The pair came from German East 

 Africa, are now (May, 1907) about seven yaars old, and 

 cost $5,500. The male stands 13 feet 8V 2 inches in height. 

 and the female 12 feet 4 l /2 inches. Both are good-tempered 

 animals, and have been in good health ever since their 

 arrival. Their food consists of clover-hay, broken forage- 

 biscuits, an assortment of raw vegetables carefully cut into 

 small pieces, a small quantity of bran, and rock salt. 



A study of the Giraffes reveals most interesting con- 

 ditions. According to the point of view, the total number 

 of species and subspecies may be reckoned at any number 

 from two to six, inclusive. According to the specimens in 

 hand, the Southern, or Two-Horned Giraffe, (Giraffa capen- 

 sis), seems clearly defined from the Northern, or Three- 

 Horned Giraffe, (G. camelopardalis). Next, the Somali Gi- 

 raffe, (G. reticulata] , of the Lake Rudolf region and north- 

 ern British East Africa, seems fairly separable. At first, 

 the Five-Horned Giraffe, of western Uganda, seemed quite 

 distinct, but now British naturalists hesitate about accord- 



