

THE C IRAK KK. ; m 



thero is a conical bone iu the middle of a muscular tube, in giyu il direction, and, l>v its form, when 

 the circular libres press upon it, to make them slide forward. 



Having no opportunity of examining the internal structure of the giraffe's tongue afl.-r death, Sir 

 Everard was of opinion that the change of size is effected by the organ containing a reservoir out nf 

 the course of the circulation, which can bo filled with blood at the will of the animal, so as to give it 

 rigidity, and enable it to extend itself for the performance of the different actions in whii-li it b) 

 employed, with the smallest possible degree of muscular exertion. It occurred to him, at the same 

 time, that, whatever may be the means by which the giraffe's tongue is able-to apply itself t<> 

 various purposes whether that which appeared to him probable, or any other something similar 

 would be met with in other animals ; particularly iu the tongue of the deer, which, after death, readily 

 admits of being drawn out to the extent of eight inches, though, when immersed in spirits, it con- 

 tracts to five inches. 



For the purpose of such an examination, a deer's tongue, recently after the animal's death, was 

 filled with minute red injection, so as to distend the arteries, and show the course of circulation in 

 them to the greatest advantage. This tongue was afterwards divided longitudinally in a perpendicular 

 direction, and also in a horizontal one, to show the muscles of which it was composed, as well as the 

 other parts that it contained. From this examination, it appeared that the structure of the tongue of 

 quadrupeds, generally, is as follows : 



It is longitudinally divided into two equal portions by a middle line. The muscular structure 

 occupies the whole of the interior substance, receiving a large supply of nerves and blood-vessels from 

 a lateral nerve and artery that pass along the outer edge : these are imbedded in a very loose cellular 

 tissue, the texture of which admits of the blood-vessels being distended to a very great degree. Beyond 



TOX<1UK OF TIIK I.IKAI I I-:. 



this tissue, surrounding and forming a case for the whole of the upper and lateral part of the organ, is 

 a strong and very elastic covering of some thickness, which yields, when the muscles and trunks of the 

 arteries are distended with blood, so as to give both extent and rigidity to the organ, and to admit of 

 the different actions in which it is employed. 



" There can be no doubt," says Sir" Everard, " of the structure of the giraffe's tongue being the same : 

 its actions depending on the combined powers of muscular contraction and elasticity ; its increase and di- 

 minution of size arising from the blood-vessels being at one time loaded with blood, and at another empty." 



This organ, as the engraving will show, has numerous papillae on the surface, and it is very 

 smooth when they are not raised, as they can be at pleasure. When raised, the surface is not only 

 rougher, but slightly adhesive. It is spotted, also, but the spots are not raised, and there is a black 

 rete mucomm, to prevent, most probably, the surface being blistered by exposure to the sun. 



The giraffe which has been humorously described as "an antelope ran to seed" is fond of a 

 wooded country. The leaves of trees are its principal food, and especially a species of mimosa. ( : reen 

 herbs are also very agreeable to it; but its structure does not admit of its feeding on them in the same 

 manner as our domestic animals, as the ox or the horse. It is obliged to straddle widely ; its two fore 

 feet are gradually stretched widely apart from each other, and its neck, being then bent into a semicircular 

 form, the giraffe is thus enabled to collect the grass. The tongue, also, has the power ,-t motion to :, 

 extraordinary degree, and, at, the same time, one of extension, so as to perform, in nnmature, the office 

 of an elephant's proboscis. Coiling this member round the branches of trees, it draws them down be, we- 

 its very movable and flexible lips, and thus nips off the tender portion,, 

 point, and is said to be capable of being inserted into a ring. 



