60 
THE GIRAFFE. 
done, that the fore-legs are much longer 
the hind. This is an error, for the legs haV^ 
the proportion of those of other quadrupeds i** 
general. What has led to this error is, th^ 
height of the withers, which, according to tb^ 
animal’s age, may exceed the height of 
rump by sixteen or twenty inches, and whic^ 
disproportion, when we see it at a distance* 
must have led to the belief that its legs 
longer before than behind. His mode of 
fence, like that of the horse and other hoof^^ 
animals, is kicking ; and his hinder limbs at^ 
so light, and his blows so rapid, that the ef 
cannot follow them. They are sufficient 
his defence against the lion. He never eH'' 
ploys his horns in resisting any attack. Tb^ 
hide, which is at first of a light red, becoxti^’ 
of a deeper colour as the animal advances b’ 
age, and is at length of a yellow brown in tb*^ 
female, and of a brown approaching to 
in the male. The sexes differ also in the foi'^' 
1 
