GIRAFFES 



thought it advisable to try and relieve the beast by using 

 a mild injection. To accomplish this, five or six of the 

 keepers entered the den in order to secure the animal 

 for the purpose of carrying out the operation. The 

 poor thing took fright at this unusual number of in- 

 truders, and rushed round the place once or twice so 

 as to avoid being captured. No sooner had the men 

 caught the giraffe than the poor beast trembled violently, 

 drooping its head forward until it touched the. ground, 

 upon which it fell as dead as a stone. 



The examination after death exhibited no sign of disease, 

 and it was concluded that the animal had simply died of 

 fright. 



Some years since I was commissioned to purchase an 

 adult female giraffe for the Sultan of Turkey. This I 

 accomplished by making arrangements for one to be sent 

 me by Mr. Hagenback of Hamburg. The animal was 

 brought to the Gardens and remained in my possession 

 for eight or ten days until it could be shipped for 

 Constantinople. 



By the agreement with the Turkish authorities, the 

 animal was to be paid for before it left my possession. 

 Fortunately for me, I received a cheque for the cost and 

 expenses of importing the animal on Saturday. The 

 animal up to that time appeared in the most perfect 

 health. On the next day, Sundaj^, the keeper of the 

 giraffe-house came to me about twelve o'clock to say tha 

 the beast was down on the ground and appeared unable 

 to rise. About two p.m. the poor brute died. 



The examination of the body after death failed to give 

 any indication of disease to account for its sudden death. 



One morning in the month of October, at ten o'clock, 

 the birth of a male giraffe took place. The young animal 

 soon after being dropped began to make efforts to gain 



