THE GIRAFFE. 



Giraffe Hunting. 



In its native wilds, the lion is the only enemy, man excepted, that the Girafl'e need lear. From various 

 sources, we learn that the lion often surprises the latter when he comes to drink at the pools or fountains, 

 and springs from his ambush upon the tall and powerful beast, which, mad with terror and pain, rushes 

 over the desert, bearing his destroyer, till, strength failing, he reels, sinks and expires. At other times, it 

 is said, however, the Giraffe has successfully resisted the attack of the lion, and even killed him with- 

 blows from its powerful fore-feet. 



The motions of the Giraffe are by no means graceful. In the'simple walk its neck is stretched out in a 

 tine with the back, which gives the animal a most awkward appearance. In the canter, ils hind-legs are 

 lifted alternately with the fore, and are carried outside of and beyor d them, by a swinging movement. 

 When excited to a swifter pace, the hind legs are often kicked out, the nostrils opened widely, and the 



head swung backward and for- 

 ward like an immense pendu- 

 lum. Its appearance at such a 

 moment is certainly odd, and 

 has often attracted the attention 

 of observers. 



Yet, after all, the Giraffe is 

 not an awkward animal ; and it 

 is very far from being slow. 

 Indeed the swiftest coursers of 

 the desert arc scarcely equal to 

 the chase, and among broken 

 and rugged ground utterly un- 

 able to overtake it. 



Authorities of deserved weight 

 have erroneously stated, that the 

 fore legs of the Giraffe are longer 

 than the hind legs. An exam- 

 ination of the skeleton proves 

 that, taking the limbs only from 

 their setting on, the hind legs 

 are about an inch the longest. 



(145) 



Pursuing the Giraffe. 



13 



