292 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



They are, of course, to be seen in every leading Zoological Garden, 

 which institutions could not be considered complete without one; but 

 during the outbreak of Mahdism in the Soudan, they became very 

 difficult to procure, and the prices asked were very exorbitant. 



It may be worth mentioning that in the menagerie of the King of 

 Oude, who was deposed after the Indian Mutiny, there was a Giraffe 

 which was accustomed to be saddled and ridden daily. This idea 

 might well be adopted elsewhere, and a properly broken Giraffe would 

 not only earn its keep by carrying riders, but might be allowed to 

 do a little tree-pruning in a public garden, to its own benefit and the 

 saving of labour to the gardeners. 



Captive Giraffes are said not to attain anything like the richness 

 of colour and commanding height which they exhibit in the wild 

 state — indeed, Mr. H. A. Bryden thinks that they compare more 

 unfavourably in these respects with their wild relatives than any 

 other animals commonly exhibited in captivity. 



