The Jennings daily record., 1902-12-26
THE okAp..
A Newly Dlscoversd Animal q Central
Africa.


Affies.
Every reader Of st. Nicholas has
doubtless visited "xoos" many times
and become well acquainted with the
different animals he has seen there.
Some of them arc very beautiful and
some Of them very unpleasing in their
but 1 am quite sure none
looking creature as the okapi. He is,
in fact. a newly discovered animal, ana
not a variety of any known species,
SO you can well see his Importance and
the interest that his discovery has
aroused-particularly in the scientific
world. Animal species have been de-
veloped from few forms. and we can
find many OF the links that connect
them; but here and there are gaps. and
that complete the chain. The Okapl
fills one of these gaps. He stands be-
tween the giraffe and antelope, and
partakes of the character of each.
He is found in the forests Of Central
Africa. and bears a strong resemblance
to fossil beast whose skeleton. though
larger. is Of about the same proper
tions. and undoubtedly that OF an an
cestor.
The okapi stands about five feet high
at the shoulder. The body. which is
covered with thick. close hair. is a
brilliant brown. but looks very blue in
the light. The color of the head, which
Is cream-yellow. commences abrupt
" at the neck, where the body color
ends. The muzzle is like that Of the
giraffe. tapering. and the lips are used
for cropping leaves. which the molar
teeth grind. There are three projec-
tions on the skull. covered with flesh
and hair like those of the giraffe. The
legs and hind quarters are striped. and
on this account many people have
made the mistake OF calling him
zebra. to which animal he does not
bear the slightest resemblance. His
hoof is cloven. like the giraffe's and
antelope's. and enables him to speed
over marshy ground without sinking.
Now. the zebra would have a single
toe Tor solid hoof). which is one of the
distinguishing characteristics Of the
horse family. The mistake arose from
the fact that Stanley, in his Darkest
Africa" spoke of horses habiting the
forests Of the Uganda districts, relying
ON the statements OF the natives. Sir
Harry Johnston, however, when in
Africa. determined to investigate the
matter. Knowing 1t contrary to the
nature Of horse to live in forests. he
was anxious to see just what this
creature might be. his interest being
furthermore excited by seeing orna-
ments and waist-aprons worn by the
natives made from this queer-lookins
skin. Upon inquiry. he found the
Okapi to be common animal in these
parts. They We're said to go in pairs.
though probably they also roam in
herds. The meat affords excellent eat
Ing to the tribes in this district. who
are principally lick dwarfs who sub
Sist for the most part on the animals
they hunt. These dwarfs are warlike
in disposition, rather shy. and exceed
ingly averse to having strangers visit
their country: and as they are quite
powerful people when banded together.
they will probably prove n great OBJ
stacle to our becoming better acquaint-
ed With this new animal. They catch
the okapi by digging holes in the
ground, over which they loosely strew
leaves and branches, making pitfalls
into which the unwary animal easily
strays. They gave the okapi his name,
but in pronouncing it they leave out
the X and in its stead make a clicking
sound peculiar to their language.
We hope some living specimens of
the okapi will be brought to our coun-
try in time, and that we may sec them
in our ZOOS, and can form for ourselves
some opinion Of this new creature.-A.
III. Knight, in st. Nicholas.