l0 6 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The GIRAFFE, or CAMELEOPARD. 



THIS animal (the exiftence of which has frequent- 

 ly been called in queftion) is a native of the wild 

 and unfrequented defarts of Ethiopia, and other interior 

 parts of Africa: where it leads a folitary life, far from 

 the habitations of men ; for whofe ufe it is rendered un- 

 fit, by the enormous difproportion of its parts. It has 



hitherto been regarded chiefly as an object of curiofity, 

 and may lead us to admire the wonderful productions of 

 that creative Power which has filled the earth with life 

 in fuch a boundlefs variety of forms. 



The height of this extraordinary animal, from the 

 crown of the head to the ground, is feventeen feet; 

 while at the rump it only meafures nine ; the neck alone 

 is feven feet long; and the length, from the extremity 



