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Sir Harry Johnston, the okapi generally goes about in pairs — male and 

 female — and neither sex has horns. It inhabits only the most dense 

 portions of the forest, and feeds chiefly by browsing upon leaves. 



One curious problem connected with this animal awaits explanation, 

 namely, the reason for its very peculiar type of coloration, which is almost 

 certainly of a protective nature. The striping of zebras, as is well known, 

 renders these animals practically invisible in the open at a comparatively 

 short distance ; and a similar explanation naturally suggests itself in 

 the case of the striped limbs of the okapi. If we could imagine the 

 creature living in such circumstances that its body was concealed among 

 foliage while the limbs were exposed to view, such an explanation would 

 fit the case. The darkness and gloom of the densest parts of the forest in 

 which the okapi is said to dwell are, however, described as being so intense 

 that protective resemblances of this nature would apparently be superfluous. 

 Before a definite opinion can be given on these points it will be necessary 

 for a competent observer to see the creature in its native haunts. 



R. Lydekker. 



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ROWLAND WARD, Ltd. 

 ■THE JUNGLE," PICCADILLY, LONDON. 



