102 THE MAMMALS OF ETHIOPIAN AFRICA 



ever, at least in early life, separable from the bones of the skull. In the okapi 

 these skin-covered horns are surmounted by small caps of bare bone representing 

 the antlers of the deer. The small lateral pair of hoofs is absent on both fore and 

 hind feet. 



In addition to its remarkable type of colouring, the okapi is characterised by 

 the presence of horns in the male alone, the relatively short limbs and neck, as 

 compared with those of giraffes, and the absence of a mane on the neck. It con- 

 sequently represents a genus by itself, of which there is but one species, Ocapia 

 johnstoni. In height the okapi stands about 5 feet at the shoulder, and has the 

 ears, in conformity to its forest-dwelling habits, much broader than in the giraffe. 



MM 



The head has a somewhat convex profile, and a narrow, rounded muzzle. The eyes 

 are proportionately smaller and less prominent than in giraffes ; the horns of the 

 males are some 3 or 4 inches in length, compressed, somewhat recurved, and, as 

 already mentioned, capped when adult with small knobs of yellow bone. Com- 

 pared with the vaulted and swollen skull of a giraffe, that of the okapi is flat and 

 depressed. The tapering tail just reaches the hocks. 



The most remarkable external feature of the okapi is its colouring. The pre- 

 vailing tint of part of the forehead, the ears, neck, and the whole of the body 

 except a portion of the hind- quarters, is purplish brown. This is replaced on the 

 sides of the face by puce or fawn, and on the forehead and ears by dark rufous, 

 while the muzzle is blackish. The hind and lower parts of the buttocks and the 



