ANFMALS. 501 



CHAP. VI. 



THE CAMEL AND THE DROMEDARY ' 



These names do not make two distinct kinds, but are only 

 ^iven to a variety of the same animal, which has, however, sub- 



whose narrative was, indeed, originally considered, in some degree, fabu- 

 lous, but the correctness of whose statements, in this particular, has since 

 been abundantly confirmed. 



We shall be enabled to describe the appearance and the habits of the giraffe 

 somewhat minutely, as they have been observed in the menageries of the 

 kings of England and of France. But Le Vaillant saw the animal in its 

 natural state ; and we may, therefore, properly translate a part of liis de- 

 scription. 



" The giraffe ruminates, as every animal does that possesses, at the same 

 time, horns and cloven feet. It grazes also in the same way ; but not often, 

 because the country wliich it inliabits has little pasturage. Its ordinary food 

 is the leaf of a sort of mimosa, called by the natives kiinaup, and by the colo- 

 nists, kameeUdoorn. Tliis tree being only found in the country of the Na- 

 maquas, may probably afford a reason why the giraffe is there fixed, and 

 why he is not seen in those regions of Southern Africa where the tree does 

 not grow. Doubtless, the most beautiful part of his body is the head. The 

 mouth is small ; the eyes are brilliant, and full Betvveen the eyes, and 

 above the nose, is a swelling, very prominent and well defined. This pro- 

 minence is not a fleshy excrescence, but an enlargement of the bony sub. 

 stance ; and it seems to be similar to the two little lumps, or protuberances, 

 with which the top of his head is armed, and wliich, being about the size of 

 a hen's c%%, spring, on each side, at the commencement of the mane. His 

 tongue is rough, and terminates iu a point. The two jaMS have, on each 

 side, six molar teeth ; but the lower jaw has, beyond these, eight incisive 

 teeth, while the upper jaw has none. The hoofs, which are cleft, and have 

 no naUs, resemble those of the ox. We may remark, at first sight, that 

 those of the fore feet are larger than those of the liind. The leg is very slen- 

 der, but the knees have a prominence, because the animal kneels when he 

 lies do^vn. There is also a larger callosity on the breast, which would lead 

 one to conclude that he generally rests on that part. 



" If I had not myself killed the giraffe, I should have believed, as have 

 many naturalists, that the fore legs are much longer than the hind. This is 

 an error ; for the legs have, in general, the proportion of those of other 

 quadrupeds. I say in general, because in this genus there are vai-ieties, aa 

 there are in animals of the same species. Thus, for example, mares are 

 lower before than stallions of an equal height. Wliat has led to tliis error, 

 as to the difference between the legs of the giraffe, is the height of the with. 



1 These quadrupeds have six front teeth in the lower jaw, wliich are 

 rather thin and broad : the canine teeth are a little remote from the rest; 

 in the upper jaw there are three, in the lower two : the upper lip divided ; 

 and there are no horns. 



