UNGULATA. 595 



supported on long bony pedicles springing from the frontal 

 bone ; and the males have large upper canines. 



d. Camelopardalidce. This family includes only a single 

 living animal the Camelopardalis Giraffa, or Giraffe some- 

 times called the Camelopard, from the fact that the skin is 

 spotted like that of the Leopard, whilst the neck is long, and 

 gives .it some distant resemblance to a Camel. There are no 

 upper canines in the Giraffe, and both sexes possess two small 

 frontal horns, which, however, are persistent, and remain per- 

 manently covered by a hairy skin, terminated by a tuft of long 

 stiff bristles. There is also a central horn, if it may be so 

 called, which is of the nature of an epiphysis, and is placed 

 upon the sagittal suture. It becomes early anchylosed with 

 the skull, as do ultimately the other two horns. The neck is 

 of extraordinary length, but, nevertheless, consists of no more 

 than the normal seven cervical vertebras. The fore-legs appear 

 to be much longer than the hind-legs, and all are terminated 

 by two toes each, the supplementary toes being altogether 

 wanting. The tongue is very long and movable, and is 

 employed in stripping leaves off the trees. The Giraffe is the 

 largest of all the Ruminants, measuring as much as from fifteen 

 to eighteen feet in height. It is a harmless and inoffensive 

 animal, but defends itself very effectually, if attacked, by kick- 

 ing. It is found in Nubia, Abyssinia, and the Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



Remains of gigantic Ruminants allied to the Giraffe have 

 been found in France and Greece (Helladotherium) ; but the 

 Sivatherium, sometimes referred to this family, appears to have 

 been more nearly allied to the true Antelopes. 



e. Cavicornia. The last family of the Ruminants is that of 

 the Cavicornia or Bovidcz, comprising the Oxen, Sheep, Goats, 

 and Antelopes. This family includes the most typical Rumi- 

 nants, and those of most importance to man. The upper jaw 

 in all the Cavicornia is wholly destitute of incisors and canines, 

 the place of which is taken by the hardened gum, against 

 which the lower incisors bite. There are six incisors and two 

 canines in the lower jaw, placed in a continuous series, and the 

 molars are separated by a wide gap from the canines. There 

 are six molars on each side of each jaw. Both sexes have 

 horns, or the males only may be horned, but in either case 

 these appendages are very different to the " antlers " of the 

 Cervida. The horns, namely, are persistent, instead of being 

 deciduous, and each consists of a bony process of the frontal 

 bone or " horn-core " covered by a sheath of horn. In the 

 Prong-buck (Antilocapra\ however, the sheath of the horn is 



