134 



THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



There is also a larger callosity on the breast, which would lead one to 

 conclude that he generally rests on that part. 



" If I had not myself killed the Giraffe, I should have believed, as have 

 many naturalists, that the fore legs are much longer than the hind. 

 This is an error ; for the legs have, in general, the proportion of those of 

 other quadrupeds. I say in general, because in this genus there are 

 varieties, as there are in animals of the same species. Thus, for 

 example, mares are lower before than stallions of an equal height. What 

 has led to this error, as to the difference between the legs of the Giraffe, 

 is the height of the withers, which, according to the animal's age, may 

 exceed the height of the rump by sixteen or twenty inches, and which 

 disproportion, when we see it at a distance, must have led to the belief 

 that its legs were longer than behind. His defence, as that of the horse 

 and other hoofed animals, consists in kicks ; and his hinder limbs are so 

 light, and his blows so rapid, that the eye cannot follow them. He 

 never employs his horns to resist any attack." 



To this quotation, which is sufficient for my present purpose, I may 

 add one circumstance, mentioned under the head of Antelopes, in the 

 same Menageries, p. 355 ; namely, " The Giraffe forms the second tribe, 

 which is distinguished by having horns, or prominences on the frontal 

 bone, covered with a soft skin, which is a continuation of the skin of 

 the head. The horns exist in both sexes, and are permanent." 



From these brief particulars, a few remarks arise relative to the 

 peculiar structure of the head of this animal. We find that it is fur- 

 nished with very full and prominent eyes. These, from the peculiar 

 narrowness of the os frontis, do not admit of the deep-seated eye socket 

 observed in the ox or horse. 



1 2 3 4 



Fig. I, 2, in which a blow from above would be thrown off in the 

 direction a a or b b, and thus escape the eye ; but in this animal the 



