240 MAMMALIA. 



singular proportions of its body, the beauty of its coat and the 

 peculiarity of its gait, are sufficient to explain the curiosity which 

 these animals have always excited. 



Its long and tapering head is lighted up by two large, 

 animated, and gentle eyes ; its forehead is adorned with two 

 horns, which consist of a porous, bony substance, covered exter- 

 nally with a thick skin and bristly hair. In the middle of the 

 forehead there is a protuberance of the same nature as the horns, 

 but wider and shorter. The ears are membranous, are in the shape 

 of a cornet, and are somewhat turned back. 



The nostrils do not open in a muzzle, that is to say, the 

 skin which sm-rounds them is not bare, like that of the Ox. 

 The lips are long and mobile, and the upper one is not split 

 like that of the Camel. Its long dark tongue frequently is 

 ejected from its mouth, and the animal delights in licking its lips 

 and nostrils. 



The head of the Giraffe is supported by a verj^ long neck, 

 which, however, unlike that of other Mammals, is composed of but 

 seven vertebrae. Along the neck is a short, thin mane, which 

 extends from the occiput to the withers. The body is short, 

 and the line of the backbone is very sloping. Its fore-quarters 

 are higher than the hinder — a feature which is observed in the 

 llytcna. Its legs are most extensively developed in the shanks, 

 as well as in the fore- arms and tibia;, and are terminated by 

 cloven hoofs, which have no rudimentary toes. The tail, which 

 is of a moderate length, is terminated by a tuft of blackish hair, 

 The skin, which is of a very light fawn-colour, is covered with 

 short hair, marked with large triangular or oblong spots of a 

 darker shade. These markings are not found on the inside 

 of the limbs or on the shanks and belljr, which are almost pure 

 white. 



Giraffes are only found in Africa, and even there they are not 

 numerous. They live in families of from twelve to sixteen 

 members, sometimes, but rarely, more. They frequent the verge 

 of the deserts, and are met with from the northern limits of Cape 

 Colony to Nubia. 



The usual p)ace of the Giraffe is an amble, that is to saj^, they 

 move both their legs on one side at the same time. Their mode 

 of progression is singular and very ungainly. At the same 



