188 
the cameleopard. 
pal specific distinctions appear, it may serve for com- 
parison with those from the southern part of the con- 
tinent. 
In both species, the immense length of neck, and 
the disproportional height of the fore-quarter, com- 
pared with the hinder, are the appearances which 
first strike an observer as unwieldy, clumsy, and un- 
fitted for an active life. The food, however, is de- 
rived in a great measure from the foliage of trees, 
particularly a species of Acacia (/Acacia Giraffce, 
Burch.). It seizes the herbage or foliage with its 
tongue, which is long and narrow, and which rolls 
round the object with a considerable degree of plia- 
bility, using it as a prehensile organ, and one beau- 
tifully fitted as an accessory to the other parts of its 
structure. The perfection of its form enables it to 
reach the exalted branches, which are uncropped, 
from being above the height of ordinary animals ; 
and, on the other hand, a shorter neck would not 
have allowed it easily to reach the earth, in districts 
where wood was more uiifrequent. Its pace is 
an amble, and, when put in motion, it is capable 
of considerable speed, according to Major Denham, 
such as to keep a horse at a pretty smart gallop. 
It occasionally falls a prey to the lion, the only 
beast of prey which dares to attack it; but the 
powerful strokes of both the fore and hinil feet are 
sometimes an equal match in open combat. The 
leight of the Giraffe is from fifteen to twenty-one feet 
The general colour is yellowish-white, patched over 
