156 SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



horse, although it takes some time to run them down. 

 They hft the front and hind legs of one side at the sarhe 

 time, their gait therefore resembling that of the Camel. 



Their food consists almost exclusively of the leaves of 

 the acacias, such as the Mimosa and Kameel-doorn. 



One calf only is as a rule produced at a time, fourteen 

 months being the period of gestation. Old males have a 

 powerful odour. The giraffe is mute, but enjoys excellent 

 sight and hearing. It is a harmless, inoffensive animal. 



These animals have bred well in the London Zoo, but 

 we have had no luck with them, losing them fairly 

 rapidly, probably on account of the " running down " to 

 which they are subjected in capturing. Several have 

 died of congested lungs, and others of debility — but these 

 latter were badly infested with cysticercus, which of 

 course saps the strength of the animal. We have at 

 present in the collection a bull nearly seven j^ears old, 

 which was received in 1912 from Chief Khama of 

 Bechuanaland, when about a quarter grown. This animal 

 has been healthy and playful ever since he arrived and 

 was captured when young and hand-reared by the natives. 

 For a year after we got him he would drink a small pailful 

 of milk twice a day. 



Family BOVID.E. 



Horns, when present, consisting of a bony " core " 

 attached to the skull, and covered by the "horn" or 

 sheath, which is a hard epidermal fibrous structure. 

 Dentition similar to that of the giraffe. This family 

 contains the true antelopes, which range from the 

 diminutive Bluebuck to the lordly Eland. 



