CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 49 



lives on dry leaves, and particularly on Reindeer moss, 

 which it scrapes from under the snow. It has baen do- 

 mesticated for a long time in Europe and A da, where it 

 is used as a beast of burden. It is to the inhabitants of 

 the North of the same use as the Camel to those of the 

 South. It furnishes, besides milk, flesh and clothing. 



§ 170. The Common Deer (Cervus virginianus) is of 

 the size of an ass, has branched horns, and a brown color, 

 and is found between Canada and South America. Every- 

 where great numbers are killed for the sake of their 

 flesh and hides, which form a great article of commerce 

 for the manufacture of gloves. 



\ 171. The Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis) is a cloven- 

 hoofed animal, with two short straight horns, an unpro- 

 portioned long neck, and a reddish spotted skin : it is 

 a native of the interior of Africa. The Giraffe re- 

 ceived the name Camelopardalis from the ancients, be- 

 cause its neck has a resemblance to that of the Camel, and 

 its dress to that of the Leopard. In walking, the Giraffe 

 moves the fore and the hind foot of the same side together, 

 like an ambling horse ; from which circumstance it has a 

 very remarkable motion. The height of the Giraffe 

 from the crown of the head to the soles of the fore-feet, 

 is seventeen feet, and from the top of the rump to the 

 soles of the hind-feet, only nine ; the length of the body 

 is seven feet. The Giraffe is not only a beautiful crea- 

 ture, but it is as gentle in its disposition as a sheep, and 

 more amiable than any other wild beast. When standing, 

 it cannot brouse the grass without great difficulty ; it 

 feeds, therefore, principally upon the leaves of trees. 

 When it wants to drink or to take any thing from the sur- 

 face of the earth, it is obliged to bend down on its knees. 

 The horns of the Giraffe are a foot in length, and as 

 thick as a man's arm : its tail is slender in proportion to 

 the length of the animal, and ornamented at its extremity 

 with a tuft of black hair, which is from seven to eight 

 inches long. 



\ 172. Antelopes, which are also cloven-hoofed, resem- 

 ble the deer in regard to their size, color, and agility. 

 Their flesh may be considered as the best of venison 

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