The suburban citizen., 1902-12-13
rHE oKAPl.
a Newly Discovered Animal or Central
Africa.


Africa,
Every reader Of st. Nicholas has
doubtless visited zoos" many times
and become well acquainted with the
different animals he has seen there.
Some Of them are very beautiful and
some Of them very unpleasing in their
appearance; but l am quite sure none
of them has ever seen such queer.
looking creature as the okapl. lie is.
In fact, a newly discovered animal, ana
not variety of any known species.
so you can we'll see his importance and
the interest that his discovery has
aroused-particularly in the scientific
world. Animal species have been de-
yeloped from n few forms, and we can
find many Of the links that connect
them; but here and there are gaps, and
it is often difficult to find the links
that complete the chain. The okap
fills one Of these gaps. He stands he.
tween the giraffe and antelope, and
partaEes Of the character Of each
He Is found in the forests of Central
4AliAids anu itAlN IL NAlOllE ItCtuiUluuIG
to fossil beastwhose 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
brilliant brown, hut looks very blue in
the light The color Of the head, which
Is cream-yelow, commences abrupt
ly 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 molaI
teeth grind. There are three projec.
tlons on the skull covered with flesh
and hair like those Of the giraffe. The
legs and hind quarters are striped, and
made the mistake OF calling him
zebra. TO which animal he does not
bear the slightest resemblance. His
lIoof is cloven, like the giraffes and
antelope's, and enables him to speed
over marshy ground without sinking.
Now, the zebra would have a single
toe (or a 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 inhahiting 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 it 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 wast-aprons worn by the
natives made from this queerlooking
skin, Upon inquiry, he found the
okapi to be a 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 little dwarfs who sub
sist for the most part on the animals
they hunt. These dwarfs are warlike
in disposition, rather shy, and exceed
lngiy averse to having strangers visit
their country; and as they are quite o
powerful people when banded together
they will probably prove a great oh.
stacle to our becoming better acquaint.
ed with this new animal. They catcN
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 k 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 see them
in our ZOOS and can form for ourselves |
some opinion Of this new creature.-A |
ii. knight, In st. Nicholas.