424 THE GIRAFFE AND THE ZEBRA 



owes its Arabic name, Xirapha, to the graceful ease of its 

 movements. 



The beauty of the giraffe is enhanced by its magnificently 

 spotted skin, and by its soft and gentle eyes, which eclipse those 

 of the far-famed gazelle of the East, and, by their lateral projec- 

 tion, take in a wider range of the horizon than is subject to the 

 vision of any other quadruped, so as even to be able to an- 

 ticipate a threatened attack in the rear from the stealthy lion 

 or any other foe of the desert. 



The long black tail, invariably curled above the back, no doubt 

 renders it good service against many a sting- 

 ing insect ; and the straight horns, or rather 

 excrescences of the frontal bone, small as 

 they are, and muffled with skin and hair, 

 are by no means the insignificant weapons 

 they have been supposed to be. " We 

 have seen them wielded by the males 

 against each other with fearful and reck- 

 less force," says Maunder, in his ex- 

 cellent " Dictionary of Animated Nature," " and we know 

 that they are the natural arms of the giraffe most dreaded by 

 the keeper of the present living giraffes in the Zoological 

 Gardens, because they are most commonly and suddenly put in 

 use. The giraffe does not butt by depressing and suddenly 

 elevating the head, like the deer, ox, or sheep, but strikes the 

 .callous obtuse extremity of the horns against the object of his 

 attack with a sidelong sweep of the neck. One blow thus 

 directed at full swing against the head of an unlucky attendant 

 would be fatal. The female once drove her horns in sport 

 through an inch board." 



The projecting upper lip of the giraffe is remarkably flexible, 

 and its elongated prehensile tail, performing in miniature the 

 part of the elephant's proboscis, is of material assistance in 

 browsing upon the foliage and young shoots of the prickly 

 acacia, which constitute the animal's chief food. 



The bird on its nest is, no doubt, often surprised by the 

 head of the giraffe suddenly peering into its lofty abode ; but 

 be not afraid, sweet creature — for the soft-eyed intruder, content 

 with vegetable fare, intends no harm to thee or to thy tender 

 brood. 



