42 



over the real form of this beautiful and extraordinary 

 animal, has of late years been dissipated by the mi- 

 nute descriptions of Gordon, Vaillant, and Sparrman, 

 From them we have learned its size, its proportions, 

 and peculiarities, with an accuracy and fidelity both 

 laudable and decisive. Yet, whilst we are fully ac- 

 quainted with the external qualities of the Giralla, it 

 is to be lamented we know so little of its habits. 

 An extreme docility, and remarkable passiveness of 

 disposition, form the prominent features of its cha- 

 racter. Antonius Constantius, a writer of the fifteenth 

 century, and one of the earliest of modern travellers 

 who has noticed it, mentions one which he saw led 

 through the streets of Fano, so gentle and quiescent 

 in its conduct, that the children of the town brought 

 bread and fruit, which it patiently ate from their 

 hands, and received the gratuitous offerings of the 

 spectators at their windows as it passed. Mr. Gor- 

 don also records an anecdote of the Girafia slain by 

 himself, which represents it in a truly amiable and in- 

 teresting light. Having wounded it with a musket- 

 ball, it suffered him to approach it as it lay upon 

 the ground, without ofiering to strike with its horns, 

 or shewing any inclination to revenge itself. He 

 even stroked it over the eyes several times, which it 

 only closed without evincing an)'^ signs of resentment. 

 When its throat was cut, for the purpose of procuring 

 the skin, and whilst lying in the agonies of death, 

 it struck the earth with its feet, with a degree of 

 violence and force far exceeding that of any other 

 animal. In these, Mr, Vaillant informs us, lay his 

 only means of defence ; yet such is the rapidity 

 with which he is enabled to exert them, that the 

 succession of their movements almost escapes per- 

 ception ; and so powerful are the blows inflicted, 

 that they are sufficient to repel the attacks of the 



