ROEBUCK ; FAMILY CAMELOPARDIDJS. 293 



other species of Deer exist in America and Asia. The Roebuck 

 s the representative of a group more nearly approaching the Goats 

 in form and habit ; for whilst the Stag delights in extensive 

 forests, and the Fallow-deer in wooded plains, the predilection of 

 the Roebuck is evidently for mountainous localities; and its 

 boldness and agility in leaping are not much inferior to those of 

 the Chamois. Of this kind several species exist in the temperate 

 parts of Europe, Asia, and America. There are species existing 

 in India, which are of small size, and have long canine-teeth ; 

 presenting, in these and other respects, an approach to the 

 Musk-deer. 



263. The family CAMELOPARDIDJE includes only that very 

 remarkable animal, the Giraffe ; which, though it most nearly 

 approaches the Deer in its general structure, has points of affinity, 

 also, with the Antelopes and Camels, besides very striking pecu- 

 liarities of its own. On a first glance at this animal, we notice 

 the enormous length of the fore-legs, and the height of its neck, 

 which carries its small, and rather delicately-formed head at a 

 vast height from the ground, not less, in some instances, than 

 eighteen feet. Notwithstanding the great length of the neck, 

 however, the number of cervical vertebrae is not greater than in 

 other Mammalia (ANIM. PHYSIOL., 627) '> and the fewness of 

 the joints prevents the neck from being bent or arched with that 

 elegance, which is displayed by the Swan ; although nothing can 

 exceed the gracefulness of form which this part sometimes 

 presents. The aspect of the Giraffe, with its neck stretched up 

 to the full, while the animal gazes around with his large beam- 

 ing eyes, or plucks the foliage from the branches of the trees, 

 browsing beneath their shade, is described as peculiarly imposing. 

 The peculiarities of conformation which this animal displays, are 

 all adapted to the mode of life which is natural to it, and which 

 differs from that of any other species ; for it is destined to browse 

 upon the foliage and young shoots of trees, at a height far greater 

 than that which any other animal can reach, whilst standing on 

 the ground. For this purpose it is furnished with an elongated 

 prehensile tongue, which is analogous in its uses to the proboscis 

 of the Elephant, being at once a feeler, a grasper, and an organ 



