Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1875 — The Giraffe. [ARTICLE]

The Giraffe.

While the giraffe was well known to the Romans, many of them being slaughtered annually at the Coliseum, it is only within late years that naturalists have had the opportunity of seeing the animal living and examining its organization. Indeed, until quite recently very little was known about them, Aristotle never having heard of them, while the Romans invariably neglected to avail themselves of the opportunity of studying it together with other large tropical beasts that were exhibited in such numbers in the days of the Emperors. Such being the case it is interesting to know that at present several tine specimens can be seen at the Zoo, and that the one that unfortunately died some time since was dissected at the university, where its internal organs are preserved, while the stuffed skin forms a valuable addition to the museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Tlie giraffe, sometimes called the camelopard, often incorrectly pronounced as if spelled camelleopard, from the vulgar idea ot its being supposed to combine the characters of these animals, really resembles more the deer family. What at once strikes the attention is the height of the animal, it often growing to be twenty feet. In its native state, however, it frequently escapes observation, its skin being so peculiarly colored and its neck and limbs so long that it is often mistaken for the dried trees among which it may be standing. The giraffe is found in different parts of Africa, near forests and within a short distance of water, generally in small herds of sixteen or so, the group offering every variety as regards the size of its members. The most striking peculiarity of the animal is its long neck and limbs. The neck, notwithstanding its great length, consists of the usual number of long segments; almost invariably seven in mammals, with the usual muscles, nerves and blood-vessels, only immensely elongated. The fore limbs are apparently longer than the hind ones; they are, however, the same length, the difference being due to the shoulder blades, which are very long. The giraffe is a beautiful illustration of the harmony that exists between the structure of an animal ami its habits. Feeding upon the leaves of the acacia trees it must be very tall to reach the branches, hence the great length of its neck and limbs, which are admirably adapted for the purpose. If, however, the animal is obliged to lower his head to the ground for its food, it is done awkwardly. By means of its tongue it selects what is palatable among the leaves. The tongue is a very remarkable prehensile organ, and is capable of being greatly elongated or contracted at will. The alimentary apparatus of the giraffe is that of the ruminant type, and very large when compared with the size of the body. It exhibits the four stomachs verywell defined. r lhe oesophagus, or tube, leading from the mouth to them, is very long. Apropos of it, Charles Dickens, after his first julep, in reply to the inquiry of the barkeeper as to how he liked it, answered that he wished his throat was as long as that of the giraffe. An interesting in its organization is that, ’while the liver is well developed, the gallbladder is absent. To the reflective mind that is trying, as naturally it suggests itself to those people who are troubled with gall-stones that if the giraffe can get rid of his bile without a gall-bladder, why should not poor humanity? The disposition of the giraffe is gentle, and it readily becomes attached to those around it. The brain is small, the greater part of the skull consisting of air-holes. The so-called horns are bony processes, like the cords supporting the horns of oxen, etc. While the giraffe,can get over a rough country quite rapidly by a sort of jumping movement, on level ground a. horse will soon overtake it. As the hide of the animal is very thick, shooting is not the best way of killing it. The natives frequently capture it by digging pits about ten feet deep and dividing the pits by a bank of earth. When the giraffe falls in the unfortunate animal gets straddled over the partition, and, struggle as it may, it cannot get out, and soon dies. The flesh of the animal serves as an article of food, and the marrow is considered by the natives as a great delicacy. Out of the skin are made shields, shoes, etc. — Philadelphia Evening Telegraph.