GIRAFFE. ANTELOPES GAZELLE. CHAMOIS. 115 



Europe, Asia, and America. He is a heavy animal, and is far from 

 possessing the grace and beauty that generally belong to the 

 Deers. 



38. The genus GIRAFFE, Cameleopardalis, is distinguished 

 from all others by the horns, which are conical, and always 

 covered with hairy skin ; they are never shed, and exist in both 

 sexes. (Plate 5. fiy. 6.) Only one species is known. The Giraffe, 

 whose height when full grown, from the top of the head to the 

 fore feet, is about seventeen feet, has the skin beautifully spotted 

 brown on a white ground. His walk is neither clumsy nor disa- 

 greeable, but there is something in his trot that is ridiculous; his 

 favourite food is the leaf of acacia and ash trees. When he 

 browses on the ground, the length of his legs forces him to spread 

 them in order to reach his pasture. The Giraffe inhabits Africa. 

 The one, whose head is copied in the plate, was taken at Sanaar. 



39. The genus of ANTELOPES is placed at the head of the group 

 of Ruminants with hollow horns, or horns with sheaths ; these 

 animals for the most part resemble stags in their light forms and 

 swiftness. Amongst the numerous species which are spread 

 through both continents, we will mention : 



40. The Gazelle, Antelope Dorcas, is of the size of the 

 Roebuck, and possesses an elegant form ; the horns are black, 

 round, and thick ; the eye beautiful, and its look very soft. It 

 lives in very numerous troops and inhabits the north of Africa. 



41. The Chamois, Antelope /hipicapra, (Plate 5, fig. 9.) 

 is of the size of a large goat, but has shorter legs and a stouter 

 body than common antelopes, a deep brown coat with a black 

 stripe descending from the eye along the muzzle. These animals 

 are never contented except among the rocks, on precipices, where 

 they can be sheltered from the rays of the sun. Their agility is 

 surprising ; they venture upon almost perpendicular rocks from 

 twenty to thirty feet in height, without any means of insuring 

 their footing : they fly rather than run. 



42. Animals of the genus of GOATS, Copra, have the horns 

 directed upwards and backwards, the chin is generally furnished 

 with a long beard and the chanfrin is concave. All the species 

 of this genus belong to Europe or Asia, and live in small families 

 on steep mountains, where they display astonishing agility. 



38. How is the genus Giraffe distinguished from other Ruminants? What 

 are the characters of the Giraffe ? Where is this animal found ? 



39. Whut are Antelopes ? 



40. What is the Gazelle? 



41. What are the characters of the Chamois? 



42. What are the distinguishing characters of Goats ? 



