136 A DESCRIPTION OF 
out. They were soon so close upon her that she was 
obliged to stop to defend herself. From the place where 
I was, I heard them give tongue with all their might ; 
and, as their voices appeared all to come from the same 
spot, I conjectured that they had got the animal in a 
corner, and I again pushed forward. I had scarcely got 
round the hill, when I perceived her surrounded by the 
dogs, and endeavouring to drive them away by heavy 
kicks. In a moment I was on my feet, and a shot 
from my carbine brought her to the earth. Enchanted 
with my victory, I returned to call my people about 
me, that they might assist in skinning and cutting up 
the animal. On my return I found her standing under 
a large ebony-tree, assailed by my dogs. She had stag- 
gered to this place, and fell dead at the moment I was 
about to take a second shot." 
The Giraffe has a peculiarly awkward manner of trot- 
ting, as it appears to move both the legs on one side at the 
same time, though this is not really the case. The 
female Giraffe in the Regent's Park was a very bad mo- 
ther to her first young one, as she would not let it suck, 
and beat it away whenever it approached. The poor 
thing was fed with cow's milk, but it soon died, no doubt 
in a great measure from the unnatural conduct of its 
mother. The present young one has been more kindly 
treated, and has in consequence thriven well. 
