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THE STORY OF THE GIRAFFE. 



of all animals. It belongs to a family apart from any other in natural his- 

 tory. The chief point of contrast, and one which has been the source of 

 much discussion among scientific men, is the pair of horn-like appendages 

 on the top of the giraffe's head. As it is largely owing to the peculiar nature 

 of these appendages 'that the giraffe is referred to a distinct family, they 

 require somewhat fuller notice. These horns, as they may be conveniently 

 called, are only a few inches in length, and are present in both sexes, making 



HABITS OF THE GIRAFFE. 



their appearance even before birth. They are at first entirely separate from 

 the bones of the skull, although in later life completely uniting with them. 

 They are thus essentially different from the horn-cores of the oxen and their 

 allies, from which they are likewise distinguished by being invested with skin 

 instead of horn. The giraffe was formerly extensively found from Nubia to 

 the Cape of Good Hope. In South Africa it is now wholly extinct. 



