Home › Contents › An Animal of Great Height and Beauty

An Animal of Great Height and Beauty

HE Giraffe--which has countenance exceedingly gentle and been humorously de- pleasing in its expression, the eyes being scribed as "an antelope remarkably full and lustrous. The Girun to seed"-is fond raffe is the tallest of all cud-chewing of a wooded country. animals, the males not uncommonly meas- The leaves of trees are uring fourteen and sometimes eighteen its principal food, and feet from the top of the head to the especially a species of mimosa. Green ground. The females are usually a foot herbs are also very agreeable to it; but or two shorter. its structure does not admit of its feeding The Giraffe is not a very swift animal, on them in the same manner as our and when pursued its gallop is described domestic animals, the ox or the horse. as exceedingly ludicrous, the hind-legs It is obliged to straddle widely; its two being brought forward at each step comfore feet are gradually stretched widely pletely in advance of the forward ones, apart from each other, and its neck, being apparently a foot or two on the outside then bent into a semi-circular form, the of them; in this fashion the Giraffes con- Giraffe is thus enabled to collect the trive to get over the ground pretty rapidly, grass. The tongue, also, has the power with a curious springing motion. A very of motion to an extraordinary degree, and, swift horse may possibly overtake them at the same time, one of extension, so as When going at full speed the heels of the to perform, in miniature, the office of an Giraffe constantly throw up dirt, sticks elephant's proboscis. Coiling this mem- and stones in the faces of its nearest pur ber round the branches of trees, it draws suers, but it never appears to attempt to them down between its very movable and defend itself unless brought to bay; in 'flexible lips, and thus nips off the tender this case its weapons are its hoofs, with portions. The tongue can taper to a which it kicks out so rapidly and vigorpoint, and is capable of being formed ously that dogs will not venture to attack into a ring. it, and it is even said that it can beat off The neck is excessively long, and the the lion in the same manner. The flesh of these animals, when young, foot of man, the Giraffe is found gener is considered very good; that of the old ally in herds varying from twelve ones is coarse.

The skin is very thick and highly valued by the natives of South Africa, who consider the leather formed from it to be the best material for sandal soles. They also use the skin in the formation of vessels to hold water, and sometimes as a covering for their huts.

Thus the animal serves various important uses.

Cumming gives us the following description of the Giraffe, at liberty in his native regions:

These gigantic and exquisitely beautiful animals which are admirably formed by nature to adorn the forests that clothe the boundless plains of the interior, are widely distributed throughout the interior of Southern Africa, but are no-