THE GIRAFFE. 125 
open plains several days’ journey to the north of 
Litakou, in small troops of six or ten individuals, 
and feed principally upon the various dwarf species 
of acacia which grow abundantly in the arid deserts ; 
are gentle and timid in disposition ; and though for- 
merly found within the boundaries of the Colony of 
the Cape of Good Hope, have not for many years 
past been known to pass the Gareep or Orange 
River, which separates it from the Griqua and Co- 
ranna country. It is a remarkable fact, that when 
this animal walks, it does not move the feet diago- 
nally, like all other quadrupeds, but first moves the 
fore and hind feet of the same side, and then the 
opposite pair alternately, or the pace which is 
usually called an amble in horses. 
This singular pace was observed by the ancients, 
who were well acquainted with the camelopard, and 
is expressly mentioned by Heliodorus. The name 
of giraffe, by which the animal is now most com- 
monly known, is derived from its Arabic name 
“ Zerapha, the elegant or graceful,’ and is the 
same as our common word seraph, used in scrip- 
ture to designate a peculiar order of the angelic hier- 
archy. 
In addition to the quadrupeds already described, 
I succeeded, in the course of these wanderings, 1n 
obtaining specimens of the following mammals and 
birds, which now form a part of my present col- 
lection. 
