162 HUNTING THE GIRAFFE 



the forehead is a remarkable prominence. The tongue hag 

 the power of mobility in such a degree that it almost rivals 

 the proboscis of the elephant. The lofty, maned neck, 

 possessing only seven joint seems to move on a pivot, in- 

 stead of being flexible like that of the swan. The body 

 tapers off towards the tail, which gives the giraffe the ap- 

 pearance of having its hind legs much shorter than the 

 fore-legs, but they are of the same length. The tail is 

 long and tufted with black hair. Both sexes have horns, 

 covered with hair. 



The skin is about an inch and a half in thickness, and 

 it was a matter of astonishment to me how a bullet could 

 pass through it. The general color of the female is a 

 dusky white, with large pale, ferruginous spots, each darker 

 in the centre. The color of the male is a deep sienna, or 

 brown, varied with the same large spots as are seen to 

 beautify the female. The belly, neck and cheeks of both 

 sexes are white. These suberb animals utter no cry what- 

 ever ; their soft glances are their only speech. Their 

 senses of sight hearing, and smell are acute and delicate. 

 Naturally, gentle, timid, and peaceable, the giraffe has no 

 means of protecting itself, but with its heels ; but even 

 when hard pressed by relentless foes, it seldom resorts to 

 this mode of defence. The lion is the most horrible of its 

 enemies, not even excepting man ; for that powerful ani- 

 mal lies in wait near the drinking places and seldom fails 



