22 
THE GIRAFFE. 
about seventeen feet, while at the rump it measures but nine — 
j the neck alone exceeds six feet. Its head, which resembles that ( 
} of the camel, is symmetrical, and undoubtedly the most attrac- 
j tive part of its structure. The large, dark and lustrous eyes of 
the giraffe, which beam with a peculiarly mild but fearless ex- 
j pression, are so placed as to take in a wicler range of the horizon 
than is subject to the vision of any other quadruped; and while | 
browsing on its favorite acacia tree, by means of its laterally jxro- 
jecting orbits, can direct its sight so as to anticipate any threat- 
ened attack in the rear from the stealthy lion or any other foe of 
i the desert. To an open attack it sometimes makes a successful ( 
defence, by striking out its powerful and well armed feet, which 
are cloven ; and it is recorded that the lion has been frequently 
repelled and disabled by the wounds which the giraffe has thus i 
inflicted with its hoofs. It has small horns, muffled by skin and 
hair, which are its chief means for defence, and are by no means 
the insignificant weapons that their appearance would indicate. 
But, notwithstanding those natural arms of hoofs and horns, the 
giraffe will not turn to do battle, except as a last extremity: 
when escape is possible it seeks it in flight. Its pace on rising f 
ground is extremely rapid, but its endurance is not such as to 
maintain a long chase with a well mounted hunter. 
The general figure of the giraffe, its raised anterior parts, } 
elongated neck, light and tapering head, and long, slender and 
flexible tongue, are all conditions which beautifully harmonize 
with its geographical position, and the nature of its food. No 
ruminant of its magnitude could exist in the arid tropical region 
to which this animal is peculiar, if it were not modified so as to 
be able to obtain vegetable sustenance independently of ordinary 
pasturage. But in those localities, shrubs and trees continue to ' 
put forth buds and leaves when all the herbage on the surface of 
the earth is scorched ; and it is for the purpose of browsing on j 
the green food supplied by lofty branches that the ruminant type 
is modified in so extraordinary a manner, as is witnessed in the 
conformation of the giraffe. It is difficult to acclimate this ani- 
mal, and, when in captivity out of its native clime, rarely lives ( 
j beyond a period of two or three years. j 
