November 1, 1893.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



203 



latter and tlie ^ii'^iffc, since it is most probalily the result 

 of independent development. Kqually noticeable are the 

 large size and promineucc of the liquid eyes, and the great 

 length of the extensile tongue ; the former being obviously 

 designed to give the creature the greatest possible range 

 of vision, while the extensibility of the latter enhances the 

 capability of reaching the foliage of tall trees afforded by 

 the lengthened limbs and neck. In comparison with the 

 slendernass of the neck, the head of the giraffe appears of 

 relatively large size ; but this bulk, which is probably 

 necessary to the proper working of the long tongue, is 

 compensated by the extreme lightness and porous structure 

 of the bones of the skull. Lastly, we may note that the 

 long tail, terminaiing in a large tuft of black hairs, is a 

 feature unlike any of the deer, although recalling certain 

 of the antelopes. 



Somewhat stiff and ungainly in its motions — the small 

 number of vertebne not admitting of the graceful arching 

 of the neck characterizing the swan and ostrich — the 

 giraffe is in all parts of its organization admirably adapted 

 to a life on open plains dotted over with tall trees, upon 

 which it can browse without fear of competition by any 

 other living creature. Its wide range of vision affords it 

 timely warning of the approach of foes ; from the effect of 

 sand-storms it is protected by the power of automatically 

 closing its nostrils ; while its capacity of existing for 

 months at a time without drinking renders it suited to 

 inhabit waterless districts like the northern part of the 

 great Kalahari desert. And here we may mention in 

 passing that the camel has gained a reputation for being 

 adapted for a desert-life above all its allies which is not 

 altogether deserved. It is true, indeed, that a camel can 

 and does make long desert journeys, but these can only be 

 maintained during such time as the supply of water in its 

 specially constructed stomach holds out, and when this 

 fails there is not an animal that sooner knocks up alto- 

 gether than the so-called '■ ship of the desert." Did their 

 bodily conformation and general habits admit of their being 

 so employed, there can indeed be little doubt that the 

 giraffe and some of the larger African antelopes, which are 

 likewise independent of water, would form far more useful 

 and satisfactory beasts of burden for desert travelling than 

 the, to our mind, somewhat over-rated camel. Returning 

 from this digression, it must be mentioned that when 

 we speak of the giraffe being independent of water, we 

 by no means intend to imply that it never drinks. On 

 the contrary, during the summer this ruminant, when 

 opportunity offers, will drink long and frequently ; but 

 it is certain that for more than half the year, in 

 many parts of southern Africa at least, it never takes 

 water at all. In certain districts, as in the northern 

 Kalahari, this abstinence is, from the nature of the country, 

 involuntary ; but according to Mr. Bryden, the giraffes 

 living in the neighbourhood of the Botletli river — their 

 only source of water — never drink therefrom throughout 

 the spring and winter months. When a giraffe does drink, 

 unless it wades into the stream, it is compelled to strnddle 

 its fore legs far apart in order to bring down its lips to the 

 required level, and the same ungainly attitude is perforce 

 assumed on the rare occasions when it grazes. 



There is yet one other point to be mentioned in con- 

 nection with the adaptation of the giraffe to its surroundings 

 before passing on, and this relates to its coloration. 

 When seen within the enclosures of a menagerie — 

 where, by the way, their pallid hue gives but a faint 

 idea of the deep chestnut tinge of the dark blotches on the 

 coat of a wild male — the dappled hide of a giraffe appears 

 conspicuous in the extreme. We are told, however, that 

 among the tall kaiiieel-Morn trees, or giraffe-mimosas, 



on which they almost exclusively feed, giraffes are the 

 most inconspicuous of all animals ; their mottled coats 

 harmonizing so exactly with the weather-beaten stems and 

 with the splashes of light and shade thrown on the ground 

 by the sun shining through the leaves, that at a com- 

 paratively short distance even the Bushman or KafKr is 

 frequently at a total loss to distinguish trees from giraffes, 

 or giraffes from trees. 



At the present day, it is hardly necessary to mention, the 

 single species of giraffe is exclusively confined to Africa, 

 not even ranging into Syria, where so many other species 

 of animals otherwise characteristic of that continent are 

 found. This restricted distribution was, however, by no 

 means always characteristic of the genus ; for during the 

 Pliocene period extinct species of these beautiful animals 

 roamed over certain parts of southern Europe and Asia. The 

 first of these extinct giraffes was discovered by Falconer and 

 C'autley many years ago in that marvellous mausoleum of 

 fossil animals, the Siwalik Hills of north-eastern India ; 

 remains of the same species being subsequently brought 

 to liglit in the equivalent deposits of Perim Island, in 

 the Gulf of Cambay, and likewise in the Punjab. 

 A second species has al-o left its remains in the 

 newer Tertiary rocks of Pikermi, near Athens ; while 

 those of a third have been disinterred in China. It was, 

 indeed, believed for a long time that France also was once 

 the home of a member of the genus, but the specimen on 

 which the determination was based is now known to be a 

 jaw-bone belonging to the existing species. Although we 

 are, unfortunately, unacquainted with the geology of the 

 greater part of Africa, the foregoing evidence points 

 strongly to the conclusion that giraffes (together with 

 ostriches, hippopotami, and certain peculiar antelopes i are 

 comparatively recent emigrants into that continent from 

 the north-east ; but, as we have elsewhere had occasion to 

 mention, the reason why all these animals have totally 

 died out in their ancient homes is still one of the darkest 

 of enigmas. 



Unknown in the countries to the north of the Sahara, 

 as well as in the great forest regions of the west, which 

 are unsuitable to its habits, the giraffe at the present day 

 ranges from the north Kalahari and northern Bechuana- 

 land in the south, through such portions of eastern and 

 central Africa as are suited to its mode of life, to the 

 southern Sudan in the north. Unhappily, however, this 

 noble animal is almost daily diminishing in numbers 

 throughout a large area of southern and eastern Africa, 

 and its distributional area as steadily shrinking. Whether 

 it was ever found to the south of the Orange river and in 

 the Cape Colony may be a moot point, although, according 

 to Mr. Bryden, there are traditions that it once occurred 

 there. Apart from this, it is definitely known that about 

 the year 1813 these animals were met with only a 

 little to the north of the last-named river ; while as 

 late as 1836 they were still common throughout the 

 Transvaal, and more especially near the junction of the 

 Marico with the Limpopo river. Now their last refuges 

 in these districts are the extreme eastern border of 

 the Transvaal (where only a few remain), and the district 

 lying to the north of Bechuanaland and known as Khama's 

 country, or Bawangwato, together with the northern 

 Kalahari. Even here, however, their existence is 

 threatened, as there is a proposal to put down tube-wells in 

 the waterless Kalahari, which, if successfully accomplished, 

 will open up the one great remaining stronghold of the 

 animal to the merciless hunter. Unless, therefore, efficient 

 and prompt measures are taken for its protection, there is 

 but too much reason to fear that the giraffe will ere long 

 be practically exterminated from this part of Africa ; 



