208 VERTEBRATA. MAMMALIA. 



foliage of the elegant Mimosa, which its long neck ena- 

 bles it to reach with ease. Its pace is peculiar ; the 

 two right feet being advanced together, then the two 

 left; the acquired amble of a lady's horse. With 

 this motion it gets over the ground at a rapid 

 rate, from its length of limb. The Lion alone is 

 able to prey on it : it is reported that he springs 

 on the back of the Giraffe, where, fixing himself 

 by his terrific claws, in spite of the exertions of 

 the quarry, he gnaws the living flesh, till the poor 

 animal drops from loss of blood. The Giraffe will 

 sometimes carry its inexorable rider for many miles, 

 before its giant strength is exhausted. The Lion, 

 however, sometimes fails to secure his hold, and is 

 often driven off severely bruised by the powerful 

 kicks of the Ruminant. And even when fixed, he 

 is occasionally shaken olf ; for modern travellers have 

 found specimens, bearing on the back and shoulders 

 the deep scars of such a conflict. To guard against 

 such attacks, a beautiful and beneficent provision is 

 made, which we must not pass over. In most of 

 the herbivorous animals, and particularly in the more 

 feeble and timid, the eyes are so placed as to have 

 a lateral direction, and are remarkably prominent. 

 Having to maintain a constant watch against their 

 foes, it is necessary that they should have a wide 

 range of vision. The Hare, Deer, and Antelope, 

 are examples, but especially the one before us. 

 " One of the most striking circumstances connected 

 with the eye of the Giraffe is its prominence ; and so 

 much so is this the case, that the eye-ball is perfectly 



