NORTHERN GIRAFFE 



A. II. Neumann's Northern Giraffe Skull. From De Winton, P.Z.S. February 1S97. 



NORTHERN GIRAFFE (GiraflFa camelopardalis). 



Iliiihla of the Swazis. 

 Indhlnlamitl of the Zulus. 

 Tuthla of the Basutos. 



Ngabc of the Masawaras. 



Giii or Halgiri of the Somah's. 



Kainccl of the Boers. 



The long and stilted limbs, the peculiarly-forn:ied head, and the 

 dappled hide, render giraffes distinguishable at a glance from all other 

 living ruminants ; with none of which they have, indeed, any very 

 close affinity, although their nearest relatives are the deer. So great 

 are their distinctions, that they constitute a family by themselves — the 

 Giraffidcc. For many years it was supposed that this family was re- 

 presented only by a single species ; but it is now ascertained that the 

 North and South African giraffes are markedly distinct from one 

 another ; the difference being apparently sufficient to admit of their 

 being regarded as species. As a family characteristic, one of the 

 most marked peculiarities of the giraffes is to be found in the horns. 

 These consist of a pair of bony processes arising from the head 

 between the ears, and covered during life with skin. They are never 

 shed ; and in the adult are immovably united to the bones of the skull, 

 although separate in young animals. In addition to these, there is a 

 more or less distinct third horn, or boss, situated on the forehead 

 between the eyes. Giraffes have a long, extensile tongue, hairy lips, 



