THE GIRAFFE. 
59 
end of the fifteenth century, when the 
lean of Egypt sent a giraffe to Lorenzo de 
®dici, which became quite familiar with the 
^bitants of Florence, living on the fruits of 
® Country, especially apples, and stretching 
^ long neck up to the first floors of the houses, 
I soliciting something to eat. Its absence 
^in Europe for three centuries and a half 
th 'loubts to be entertained not merely of 
^ Accuracy of the descriptions given of it. 
to 
e 
of the very existence of such an animal. 
® Vaillant was the first modern traveller 
cise 
Communicate from actual examination pre- 
motions of the form and habits of the gi- 
^ After giving a highly picturesque de- 
Ption of his first encounter with the animal 
Innd of the Great Namaquas, he fur- 
cs the following particulars respecting its 
cral appearance and manners : — 
If I had not myself killed the giraffe, I 
°mld have believed, as many naturalists have 
