NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



nence is more or less rudimentary, consisting of a 

 mere lump or bony swelling. 



In the northern local races the third horn is 

 well-developed, and stands out 3 to 5 inches from 

 the forehead. 



The Giraffe was known from early times, for it 

 is on record that Julius Csesar exhibited live speci- 

 mens in Rome. It was first discovered by the 

 Dutch in South Africa in 1761. 



The name Giraffe is stated to have arisen from 

 the Arabic Zaref or Zarefat. 



These strange-looking animals associate in troops 

 of three or four up to about twenty individuals, 

 composed of a herd bull with cows, immature males 

 and calves. Old males, as is the case with other 

 wild animals, are often observed wandering about 

 alone. 



The Giraffe favours rather dry, open country 

 where the Kameel dorn {Acacia giraffa) flourishes ; 

 the leaves of this species of acacia tree are its chief 

 food. It is only when this source of food-supply 

 is insufficient that it resorts to the leaves of other 

 species of trees and shrubs. The Giraffe is purely 

 a browser. It usually rests during the heat of the 

 day, and feeds in the early morning and late evening. 

 When standing immovable amongst the shrubs and 

 trees of its habitat, the Giraffe is very difficult to see ; 

 and its long neck, even when clearly in view, can 

 easily be mistaken for a dead tree-trunk. When 

 suspicious, it remains perfectly still with head erect 



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