524 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



spotted like that of the Leopard, whilst the neck is long, and 

 gives it some distant resemblance to a Camel. There are no 

 upper canines in the Giraffe, and both sexes possess two small 

 frontal horns, which, however, are persistent, and remain per- 

 manently covered by a hairy skin. The neck is of extraordi- 

 nary length, but, nevertheless, consists of no more than the nor- 

 mal seven cervical vertebrae. The fore-legs appear to be much 

 longer than the hind-legs, and all are terminated by two toes 

 each, the supplementary toes being altogether wanting. The 

 tongue is very long and movable, and is employed in stripping 

 leaves off the trees. The Giraffe is the largest of all the 

 Ruminants, measuring as much as from fifteen to eighteen feet 

 in height. It is a harmless and inoffensive animal, but defends 

 itself very effectually, if attacked, by kicking. It is found in 

 Nubia, Abyssinia, and the Cape of Good Hope. 



Remains of gigantic Ruminants allied to the Giraffe have 

 been found in France and Greece (Helladotherium) ; but the 

 Sivatherium, sometimes referred to this family, appears to have 

 been more nearly allied to the true Antelopes. 



e. Cavicornia. The last family of the Ruminants is that of 

 the Cavicornia or Bovidcz, comprising the Oxen, Sheep, Goats, 

 and Antelopes. This family includes the most typical Rumi- 

 nants, and those of most importance to man. The upper jaw 

 in all the Cavicornia is wholly destitute of incisors and canines, 

 the place of which is taken by the hardened gum, against 

 which the lower incisors bite. There are six incisors and two 

 canines in the lower jaw, placed in a continuous series, and the 

 molars are separated by a wide gap from the canines. There 

 are six molars on each side of each jaw. Both sexes have 

 horns, or the males only may be horned, but in either case 

 these appendages are very different to the " antlers " of the 

 Cervidcz. The horns, namely, are persistent, instead of being 

 deciduous, and each consists of a bony process of the frontal 

 bone or "horn-core" covered by a sheath of horn. The 

 feet are cleft, but are furnished with accessory hoofs placed on 

 the back of the foot. 



The Cavicornia comprise the three families of the Antilopidcz, 

 Ovidcz, and Bovidcz. The Antelopes form an extremely large 

 section, with very many species. They are characterised by 

 their slender deer-like form, their long and slender legs, and 

 their simple cylindrical or twisted horns, which are usually 

 confined to the males, but sometimes occur in the females as 

 well. The Antelopes must on no account be confounded with 

 the true Deer, to which they present many points of similarity. 

 Th e structure of the horns, however, is quite sufficient to dis- 



