488 Great and Small Game of Africa 



THE GIRAFFES 



Family Giraffid^e. Genus Giraffa 



Although in former times inhabiting Southern Europe and Asia, this 

 family is now restricted to Africa south of the Sahara, where it is represented 

 by the single genus Giraffa. Externally giraffes are broadly distinguished 

 from all other living ruminants by their towering height, mainly due to 

 the elongation of the neck and limbs, the withers being considerably higher 

 than the hind-quarters. On the crown of the head in both sexes are a 

 pair of short, straight, upright horns, covered permanently with hairy 

 skin ; while on the forehead is developed a median bony process of variable 

 size, also invested with skin. The ears are rather large, the muzzle is 

 broad and hairy, with slit-like nostrils which can be closed at will, face- 

 glands are present, and the tongue is long and extensile. The neck and 

 withers are maned, and the tufted tail reaches about to the hocks. All 

 traces of the lateral hoofs have disappeared. The upper cheek-teeth have 

 short and broad crowns, with, like those of the lower jaw, a very rough 

 enamel. In addition to unusual lightness, the skull is remarkable for the 

 elevation of the front plane of the forehead and face above the eyes, and 

 likewise for the large size of the unossified space behind the nose-bones. 

 The blotched coloration is also a very distinctive feature of the genus. 



Of the foregoing characters, those relating to the horns are the chief 

 which entitle the giraffe to be regarded as the representative of a family 

 by itself. 



Two species may be recognised, viz. — 



1. Nubian Giraffe (G. camelofardalis). 



2. Southern „ (G. capensis). 



A western race has been separated as G. camelopardalis peralta ; and 



