£84 
THE STORY OF THE GIRAFFE. 
of all animals. It belongs to a family apart from any other in natural his¬ 
tory. The chief point of contrast, and one which has been the source of 
much discussion among scientific men, is the pair of horn-like appendages 
on the top of the giraffe’s head. As it is largely owing to the peculiar nature 
of these appendages that the giraffe is referred to a distinct family, they 
require somewhat fuller notice. These horns, as they may be conveniently 
called, are only a few inches in length, and are present in both sexes, making 
their appearance even before birth. They are at first entirely separate from 
the bones of the skull, although in later life completely uniting with them. 
They are thus essentially different from the horn-cores of the oxen and their 
allies, from which they are likewise distinguished by being invested with skin 
instead of horn. 
This beautiful and extraordinary animal is found only in South Africa. 
