GIRAFFES. 



557 



and pleasant in the full, round, dark eye of the Giraffe, whose gaze is really fascinating to 

 those who feel attracted by a mild and gentle expression of soul. Even the ruthless hunter 

 has felt himself overcome by the glances of the Giraffe's dark, expressive eye, as the poor 

 animal lay unresistingly and silently on the ground, watching its destroyer with reproachful 

 but not vengeful gaze. 



As far as is at present known, the Giraffe is a silent animal, like the eland and the kan- 

 garoo, and has never been heard to utter a sound, even when struggling in the agonies of 

 death. When in its native land it is so strongly perfumed with the foliage on which it 

 chiefly feeds, that it exhales a powerful odor, which is compared by Captain Gumming to 

 the scent of a hive of heather honey. 



Although an inoffensive and most gentle creature, it is not destitute of aggressive capa- 

 bilities, and can defend itself against ordinary foes, such as the predaceous carnivora which 



GIRAFFE GRAZING UPON LEVEL GROUND. 



inhabit the same land. In defending itself it does not bring its head within reach of its 

 enemy, but delivers a shower of kicks with such lightness and celerity, that it has been 

 known even to daunt the lion from the attack. When, however, the lion can steal unob- 

 served upon the Giraffe, and especially when it unites with others of its own race in the pur- 

 suit of the huge prey, it brings down the Giraffe by dint of sheer bodily strength and sharp- 

 ness of tooth and claw. 



To man it falls an easy prey, especially if it can be kept upon level ground, where a 

 horse can run without danger. On rough soil, however, the Giraffe has by far the advantage, 

 as it leaps easily over the various obstacles that lie in its way, and gets over the ground in a 

 curiously agile manner. It is not a very swift animal, as it can easily be overtaken by a horse 

 of ordinary speed, and is frequently run down by native hunters on foot. When running, it 

 progresses in a very awkward and almost ludicrous manner, by a series of frog-like leaps, its 

 tail switching and twisting about at regular intervals, and its long neck rocking stiffly up and 

 down in a manner that irresistibly reminds the observer of those toy birds whose heads and 

 tails perform alternate obeisances by the swinging of a weight below. As the tail is switched 

 sharply hither and thither, the tuft of bristly hairs at the extremity makes a hissing sound as 

 it passes through the air. 



The Giraffe is easily traced by its "spoor," or footmarks, which are eleven inches in 

 length, pointed at the toe and rounded at the heel. The pace at which the animal has gone is 

 ascertained by the depth of the impression, and by the scattering of disturbed soil along the 

 rjath. 



