GIRAFFES 
thought it advisable to try and relieve the beast by using 
a mild injection. To accomplish this, five or six of the 
keepers entered the den in order to secure the animal 
for the purpose of carrying out the operation. The 
poor thing took fright at this unusual number of in- 
truders, and rushed round the place once or twice so 
as to avoid being captured. No sooner had the men 
caught the giraffe than the poor beast trembled violently, 
drooping its head forward until it touched the ground, 
upon which it fell as dead as a stone. 
The examination after death exhibited no sign of disease, 
and it was concluded that the animal had simply died of 
fright. 
Some years since I was commissioned to purchase an 
adult female giraffe for the Sultan of Turkey. This I 
accomplished by making arrangements for one to be sent 
me by Mr. Hagenback of Hamburg. The animal was 
brought to the Gardens and remained in my possession 
for eight or ten days until it could be shipped for 
Constantinople. 
By the agreement with the Turkish authorities, the 
animal was to be paid for before it left my possession. 
Fortunately for me, I received a cheque for the cost and 
expenses of importing the animal on Saturday. The 
animal up to that time appeared in the most perfect 
health. On the next day, Sunday, the ■ keeper of the 
giraffe-house came to me about twelve o’clock to say tha 
the beast was down on the ground and appeared unable 
to rise. About two p.m. the poor brute died. 
The examination of the body after death failed to give 
any indication of disease to account for its sudden death. 
One morning in the month of October, at ten o’clock, 
the birth of a male giraffe took place. The young animal 
soon after being dropped began to make efforts to gain 
89 
