Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-08-14
The Giraffcs, or Cameleepard s.

The Giraffes, or Camel c opards.
The intense interest of the public TO become ac-
suainted with the habits and history of the wonder
fa giraffe, living specimens of which now exhibit
ing in this city, has induced us to give fall and par.
tcular description of its pecuarites, habits and
struction, it appears from actual observation
gether with sketches taken from the account given
by ancient travellers, by way of comparison. Also,
the ingenious methed Of capturing these animals,
whose astonishing eetness battles every efJrt of the
hunter to secure it alive is given by Mr.. Clayton, the
en,erprising gentleman represented in the cut in the
attitude of throwing his lasso over the head of Gil
raIe.
OF this stupendous creature, the taest and, i'm Sc
veral other respects, the most remarkable specimen
of the animal creation, no accurate description has
been gwen, IN any work on natural history, whether
ancient or modern. Found only IN those interior
gions of Africa which to the ancients were entirely
unknewn, and which, even now, are bat rarely visit
ed by civilized men, il has seldom been seen in It's
natural state by persons capable Of describing either
its structure its habits; and the reports of those
few who otherwise competent are left defective
by too cursory TOO transient observation. The &C.
counts gwen Of il by Plny, Orphan, Strabo, and
Others who collected them from marvellous rumor
served rather to place the Cdmetopordalis among
the creations Of fancy among the unlcorns, grlins
and Cyclopean- athropophagi OF imaginative fable
than TO render II an object of serious curiosity,
native wllds, by the French naturalist L. Valiant,
about seventy years ago. il had not been heard OF in
Europe for nearly three centuries, and the description
OF published by this traveller, was not received by
meH of science with implicit credence.
One of the latest and most satisfactory DISORDERS
of the Giraffe, is H. Valiant The discoveries Of this
ingenious writer who, in the progress OF his travels
through Africa had frequent opportunities of seeing
them in their native hauRts, has thrown new light
npen their history. His observations interesting,
and he has besides rendered an important service 10
science by enrchpg one or two OF the prineIpa Mu-
seums of Europe with specimens oil the animal. No
other living specimen OF the animal, however, has
ever reached this hemisphere, than those brought
OFT by Messrs. Welsh Macomber d Weeks; from
whence the naturalist enabled 10 form his epn
ION of this remarkable animal, unbiased by the re-
ports Of natlenve observers or the imperfect details
Of former travellers.
The two beautiful specimens exhibiting in this
city, are in excellent order, and although they have
not yet attained their full growth the behslder may
be capable Of concelsng no very inadequate idea OF
the majesty of these gigantSeanimals, when ranging
at large Va the wilds their native forests;
one cannet contemplate them without astonshment
III height alone constituted presidency among quad
rupeds the Giraffe would undoubtedly CLAIM the first
rank, measuring when full grown nearly twenty
three feet in Height Admitting the lowest calcula-
ton the Grate is the tallest animal in nature, and
every account have OF II tends 10 prove that as
secable and inoensive IN It's manners, as Il Is beau
ful in appearance.
According to Plny the Giraffe was first exhibited
by Casar the dictator, in the Clrcaan games II was
afterwards more frequently introduced We are tcld
that in the time OF the Emperor Gordan no less than
ten were shown AT once. Aurean exhibited H. amoHg
other remarkable animals, in his triumph on the con-
quest Of Palmyra Heliadorus speaks OF It's being
brought, among other presents, by the Ethiopian
ambassadors to Rome. Ii is represented among 9TH
or rare animals on the Prgnestino pavement, made
by Sylla and is expressed both in its grazing and
brousng attitudes.
In the year 1927 the Pacha Of Egypt, who had
procured them AT immense cost presented some spe-
cimens to the Kings Of France and England, which
were the first that were alive IN Europe, and
where they excited unprecedentcd ans unbounded in
terest Every Journal OF the day, quarterly, and re-
cord Of criticism and science, was devoted to granfy
that universal curiosity concerning the Giraffe. Boa
in Paris were either npmed after the popular animal,
represented II IN its various postares In the fabric
Ii was tie asionishment Of all Europe.
The Giraffe ls gregarieus herbaeeous, and rum.
natng quadruped entirely sui gensris IN IT'S structure
and some Of its habits. In its general contour, u
unites several traits of the ostrich, the antelope the
camel and the stag. The curve OF its towering neck
which sometimes gives il height Of more than twen
~ feet throws tie grace OF the la,o the dspro-
portiona,o elonqauon Of the ostrich Its decatey |
moulded head greatly improved upon that of the ca
mel has much OF the shapey beauty Of the antelope,
whilst ia rich and full black eye frnsed with long
sk lashes rivals that Of the famed gazclc Its fore
legs are as admirably symmetrical as those OF the
stag, and are as long from me cioven moo, 70 me
Joint Of the shoulder, the neck is from its base
The shoulder to its Junction with the head The great
depth Of he shoulder, from the camel like protubcr
which crowns it. TO the JOINT OF the cavcle ssu
ally creates the irnpresson that the orelegs OF this
qsadupcd are most disproportionably long when |
compared with its hind legs, especially a. the line Of
its back deseends from the neck TO the TAIL IN an an
gle nearly equnl 10 that presented oy stag threwn
upon tie hauaches In thIs peeuharty, u greatly ex
aegerates upon the similar trait Of the hyena and
vioently rcverses the direction which the veriebrs
" inclined in the lama In reality, however the fsre
and hind legs are Of equal length,
The front aspect OF this creature presenting an or
bicular. double convex chest, resting upon it's long
perpendicular legs, srd surmeunisd by soarirQ neck