GIRAFFE. 



503 



aliort coarse bristly hair : tliey terminate abruptly, 

 in a flattish or slightly convex head, but little 

 wider than the other part of the horn, and edged 

 with stiff bristles all round the outline. On the 

 middle of the forehead rises a considerable protu- 

 berance, owing to an elevation or bony rising on 

 that part of the skull. From the head to the mid- 

 dle of the back runs a short stiffish mane. The tail 

 is of moderate length, and is of a cylindrical form, 

 gradually tapering towards the end, and terminat- 

 ing in a tuft of long hair. The hoofs are moderately 

 large, and black. The fore part of the body is 

 very thick and muscular, and the hind part thin 

 and meagre. The ground-colour of the animal is 

 whitish, variegated on all parts with numerous, 

 moderately large, and somewhat squarish spots, 

 which in the male are brown, and in the female 

 ferruginous. In the younger animals they are 

 sometimes of a bright reddish-yellow. These 

 marks or spots are of a somewhat less regular 

 shape on the sides than on the neck and shoul- 

 ders. 



The Cameiopardi is a native of Ethiopia, and 

 some other parts of Africa'^, where it is chiefly 

 found in forests, living on herbage of various 

 kinds, but principally on the foliage of trees, and 

 particularly on some species of Mimosa. When 

 grazing on the surface of the ground, it is ob- 

 served to spread its fore-legs very considerably, 

 in order to enable it to reach the eround with 



* It is also said to occtsr in some parts of Asia. 



