96 
AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 
they disappeared among the mimosas, at their strange 
leisurely looking gallop. Of all the beasts in an African 
landscape none is more striking than the giraffe. Usually 
it is found in small parties or in herds of fifteen or twenty 
or more individuals. Although it will drink regularly if 
occasion offers, it is able to get along without water for 
months at a time, and frequents by choice the dry plains or 
else the stretches of open forest where the trees are scattered 
and ordinarily somewhat stunted. Like the rhinoceros— 
the ordinary or prehensile-lipped rhinoceros—the giraffe is 
a browsing and not a grazing animal. The leaves, buds, 
and twigs of the mimosas or thorn-trees form its customary 
food. Its extraordinary height enables it to bring into play 
to the best possible advantage its noteworthy powers of 
vision, and no animal is harder to approach unseen. Again 
and again I have made it out a mile off or rather have seen 
it a mile off when it was pointed out to me, and looking at 
it through my glasses, would see that it was gazing steadily 
at us. It is a striking-looking animal and handsome in its 
way, but its length of leg and neck and sloping back make 
it appear awkward even at rest. When alarmed it may 
go off at a long swinging pace or walk, but if really fright¬ 
ened it strikes into a peculiar gallop or canter. The tail is 
cocked and twisted, and the huge hind legs are thrown 
forward well to the outside of the forelegs. The movements 
seem deliberate and the giraffe does not appear to be going 
at a fast pace, but if it has any start a horse must gallop 
hard to overtake it. When it starts on this gait, the neck 
may be dropped forward at a sharp angle with the straight 
line of the deep chest, and the big head is thrust in advance. 
They are defenceless things and, though they may kick 
