94 
RHINO AND GIRAFFES [ch. iv 
—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 ad¬ 
vantage 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 frightened 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 out¬ 
side of the fore-legs. 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 be thrust in 
advance. They are defenceless things, and, though they 
may kick at a man who incautiously comes within 
reach, they are in no way dangerous. 
The following day I again rode out with Captain 
Slatter. During the morning we saw nothing except 
the ordinary game, and we lunched on a hill-top, ten 
miles distant from camp, under a huge fig-tree with 
spreading branches and thick, .deep-green foliage. 
Throughout the time we were taking lunch a herd of 
zebras watched us from near by, standing motionless 
with their ears pricked forward, their beautifully striped 
bodies showing finely in the sunlight. We scanned the 
