The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-03-14
The Giraffe.
Chatte-boz.


Psychological Gardens none sger,mOes re-
narkable than the giraffe, the tallest animal
in the world. Il was called the camelo1Rrd
by the sncients, because it had long legs
Eke.the camel and was spotted like the
leopard; but it is not really Ike eitherGni-
nal, though it has some resemblance to,the
camel, as in the shape of its nostrils and
upper lip it is more nearly allied to che
deer; but its most striking peculisrities ere
all its own, and in general form it is unlike
any ether quadrupeo- The spots with
which il ia adorned are totally ditferentfso
those of the leopard, being large, and rof e.
regular shape, and are arranged, in "a
geometric pattern along its sides. Tao
small horns with whick its heed is arIuG
are not made of horn. like those of the OF
OK deer, but are of bone, sRd~Geem like c
prolongstion of the bones of the skull;
they are terminated by tat of stifi
bristles.
The singular shape of the gipzfe is adapt
ed to its habits of life; it feeds on tie young
brances- and top shoots of the .tres3 J, and its
long fore-legs and neck enable it 10 browse
at far greater height than sGy other
aainal.
In feeding it stretches up it's mack, and
with its long prehensile tongue, whidl it can
protrude to g surprising distance, hooks
down the tender shoots and. lesvesinto its
mouth. But the creaturea peculia, form,
though enabling it to feed on WHAT. likes
best. is sometimes the cause Of its 6es.rE ction.
The-fore-legs are so long that to reach the
ground it has to stretch them wide soart,
and bend down its neck in R>aemicircle and
whilst drinking in this defelceless attitude
the lion, or leopard, springs uponit, and
0verpowers itbefore it can srecoversi15elf
The giraffe ID rather timid animal, an %
Il runs with great swiftness it.usually .sSeks
safety in fight; but when hard preset il
will tErn and beat off even sthe linn y
striking out with its strong fore-hoofs. rs
horns too, though they are small, are csRa-
be of INJECTING severe injuries. s&ost hort
ed animals lower their hesds, and butt O.
the object of their attack; bat the giraffe
swings its long neck sideways, and dellyer,
Q tremendous blow which sometimes prove,
fatal. A,young female giraffe at the. Zoo
logical Gardens ones plsyfully drove hei
horns through.a wooden partitisn. sn inch
thick.
In feeding. the girsEe appears toohe gaidl
ed by sight rather than smell. for 1t hss
been knswn TO eat ,ex.ifcial flowers and
leaves. On .ane occasion, a. sone xssyly
the Geological Gardens one Of she ami
mails, attrsctedLy the decorations of aae OF
their boHnets, took advantage of the la6y's
turning her head to stretch its neck over
the high iron ratings, and hooking ats long
tongue ro-nd q btilliant, fewer, pluckecl il
cut, cheWed it up, and swallowed il befozs
the fair .oEner was aware Other lossi
Every one who tas seen the giraffe mns.
have noticed the sgzeat size and beauty, oi
Its soft blacEk eyes; they hsvaa gentle, vet
fearless expression, and their promineacs
enables the animal TO see almoCt behind it
so 81 20 guard againx an enery attacking
it whiist feeding. In walking che giraffe
does not move its legs like the horse, OK,
and most other qusdrupeds, but moves both
the fore and hind legs 81 the ssp.e side Al
once, like the.aaphant sad camel.
In its native country of Aries the gi-
rafe sometimes sttains the height q seven.
teen feet; but of those brsnght tespr bred
in Europe, few have exceeded fourteen
feet. The giraffe mas first brought 20 Eu-
rope by thu Romans after tkeir conquest OF
Africa Julius Cesar exhibited it L. his
gorgeous spsctacles to the wondering eyes
Of the citizens of Rome, who thought ttey
saw in this new and strange creature q
combination Of the Characters Of the horse,
OK, camel, and leopard; but ths short stif
name down it, neck is certainly not like
that Of horse. though ks tufted tail may
have some resemblance to that Of an OK.
But every rare or strange animal brought
to Rome was only destined to heighten the
barbsrous sports Of the amphitheatre. and,
however much the Romans admired the
giraffe. or csmelopsrdsIis, as they called it,
il was slaughtered without marcy. In che
reign of the Emperor Philip tan of thsse
beautiful creatures were claim in the arena
at one time for the amusement OF the pop.
ulacel It is difficult to imagine tbs cruelty
Of people who could find pleasure in wit
Messing the destruction of such beautiful
and harmless animals.