Strictly speaking, the Giraffes cannot be considered as belonging to the
same family with the Camels, nor yet the Camels be classed with the
Llamas; but there is a very great resemblance between these three genera
of animals, and, except for scientific purposes, they form a group
sufficiently natural. Indeed any one of the three is more like to the
other two than to any other kind of mammalia; although some naturalists
prefer considering the giraffe as a species of deer. This
classification, however, rests principally upon an erroneous
supposition--that the oblong protuberances on the head of the giraffe
are horns, which in reality they are not, but mere continuations of the
frontal bone. It would be as absurd, therefore, to call the giraffe a
deer, as to consider it a species of camel, and perhaps more so. It may
be regarded as an animal _sui generis_; but in making a series of
groups--such as we have here attempted--it appears more natural to place
it alongside the camels than elsewhere; and it is certainly as much like
the true camel or dromedary as either the llama or vicuna. One of its
most popular names--that of Camelopard, or Spotted Camel--shows the
resemblance which suggests itself to the eye of the traveller and
ordinary observer; and this resemblance extends also to many characters
that are not external. Indeed, after all that has been said by
anatomical naturalists, we might hazard assertion of the belief, that
the camelopard is neither more nor less than a species of wild camel.
Its appearance need not be described. Every eye is familiar with the
slender form, long neck, smooth coat, and spotted skin of this singular
animal. But its habits are less understood, and this arises from
several distinct causes. In the first place, the giraffe inhabits only
those countries about which very little is known by civilised people;
secondly, it is but rarely seen, even by travellers; and, thirdly, when
it _is_ encountered in its native haunts, it is of so shy a disposition,
and so ready to take flight, that scarce any opportunity is ever
obtained for properly observing it.
The giraffe is exclusively confined to the continent of Africa; but its
range is by no means limited. It was formerly common enough as far
south as the Cape itself, whence it was driven by the Dutch and
Hottentot hunters. It is not now met with to the south of the Great
Orange River. Northward from this point, it extends to Nubia and
Abyssinia; but it does not appear that it inhabits the western section
of the continent, since it is not heard of in Guinea, or any of the
countries on the Atlantic coast. In the interior it is common enough.
The giraffes herd together in small troops--consisting of ten or a dozen
individuals--and prefer the open forests, or rather the hills covered
with copses of acacia and other African trees. Their principal food is
the foliage of these trees; and one species of mimosa--the _camel-doorn_
(camel-thorn) of the Dutch hunters--is their especial favourite. The
leaves of this tree, like all others of the acacia tribe, are of pinnate
form, and sweet to the taste; and the giraffe browses upon them,
standing erect, with its long neck outstretched to a height of nearly
twenty feet! Its tongue is possessed of a peculiarly prehensile power,
and with this extended a foot or more beyond the lips, it can sweep in
the leaves and twigs for a wide circle around its muzzle.
When affrighted and put to its speed, the giraffe appears to go with an
up-and-down gait, and some travellers have alleged that it limps. This
arises from the fact, that every time it lifts its fore-feet, it throws
back its long neck, which on other occasions is always held erect. It
sometimes travels with a pacing step, but it can also gallop after the
manner of a horse, and is even so swift that it requires a horse at full
speed to overtake it.
Notwithstanding that its food consists principally of the leaves and
twigs of trees, the giraffe will also eat grass. While browsing thus,
it usually bends one of its knees downward; and while stretching upwards
to a high branch, it brings all its feet nearer to each other. It often
lies down to "chew its cud" or to sleep; and this habit produces the
callosities upon the sternum and knees, which resemble those of the
camels.
The giraffe is a peaceful and timid animal, and is often the prey of the
lion--the fierce beast of prey taking it unawares, springing upon its
back, and destroying it by breaking the cervical vertebrae with his
powerful teeth. Sometimes, however, it is enabled to drive the lion off
by kicking out against him with its heels, and tiring or discouraging
him from the attack.
The Hottentots and Kaffirs hunt the giraffe for the sake of its flesh,
which in young individuals is very good eating. Sometimes, however, it
smells strongly of a species of shrub upon which the animal feeds, and
which gives it a disagreeable odour. The Bushmen are particularly fond
of the marrow produced in its long shank bones, and to obtain this, they
hunt the animal with their poisoned arrows. They also make out of its
skin bottles and other vessels for containing water.
Conspicuous as is the giraffe, it is not so easy to distinguish it in
the haunts where it inhabits. Seen from a distance, it has the
appearance of a decayed tree, and, remaining motionless, it is often
passed by the hunter or traveller without being observed. It is itself
very keen-sighted; and the manner in which its large beautiful eye is
set gives it a decided advantage for seeing around it, even without the
necessity of turning its head. On this account it is approached with
great difficulty, and usually contrives to escape from the most ardent
pursuer.
The _Camels_ come next in turn. Of these there exist two distinct
species--the Camel, or Bactrian camel; and the Dromedary, or Arabian
camel. Both are found only in a domesticated state. Both are "beasts
of burthen," and of both there are several varieties.
First, then, of the Bactrian camel--that is, the species with two humps.
This animal differs very much from the Arabian camel, and is altogether
more rare. It is about ten feet in length of body, and covered
generally with a thick shaggy coat of hair of a dark brown colour; but
there is no difficulty in distinguishing it from its Arabian congener.
The two huge humps or hunches upon its back form a sufficient token by
which to identify the species.
It is found in Persia and the adjoining countries; but in no part in
such numbers as in the middle zone of Asia--in the Taurus, and to the
north of the Himalaya Mountains. It is also seen occasionally in Arabia
and other countries; but in these it is rare, the dromedary taking its
place for all purposes required by man. It is, nevertheless, of a
stouter build than the latter, and stronger in proportion to its size.
As already stated, there are several varieties, produced by a difference
in stature, colour, and swiftness.
The Dromedary, or Arabian camel, is altogether more widely distributed,
and better known to the world. It is propagated in Arabia, Persia, the
south of Tartary, some parts of India, in Africa from Egypt to Morocco,
and from the Mediterranean Sea to the river Senegal. It is also
numerous in the Canary Islands, and has been introduced into Italy,
especially at Pisa, in Tuscany. It is not generally known that it has
also been transported into the Island of Cuba, and employed at the mines
of El Cobre, near Santiago; and later still--in fact, at the present
hour--an attempt is being made to naturalise it upon the central plains
of Texas and California.
The callosities upon the limbs and chest, and the hump on the back, have
caused much perplexity among naturalists; but, perhaps, their purpose
may be explained. They seem to bear some relation to the necessities of
the animal, considered as the slave or man. The callosities are the
points on which it kneels down to receive its burden. The hump, which
is a fatty secretion, is known to be absorbed into the system when the
animal is pinched for food, thus forming a provision against the
casualties to which it is subject in a life evidently ordained to be
passed in the desert. Add to this, that its singularly formed stomach
renders it capable of containing a supply of water suitable to long
journeys, and we have ample evidence of the purpose for which this
singular and useful creature was designed.
The camel furnishes the Arab with flesh and milk, of its hair he weaves
clothing, and even tents; his belt and sandals are the produce of its
hide, and its dung affords him fuel.
The hair of the Persian camel is held in the highest estimation. There
are three kinds of it--black, red, and grey; the black being of most
value, and the grey fetching only half the price of the red.
But all such uses are mere trifles when compared with the value of these
animals as beasts of burden--"ships of the desert," as they have been
poetically named. By means of them, communication is kept up between
distant countries separated by large tracts of frightful deserts, which,
without some such aid, would be entirely impassable by man.
We arrive at the _Llamas_, or camel sheep, as the old Spanish colonists
used to call them.
These animals are natives of South America, and their range is limited.
They are found only on the high plateaus of the Andes; through which
they extend, from New Granada on the north to Chili on the south, though
one species ranges even to the Straits of Magellan. In all there are
four distinct species of them--the Llama proper, the Paca or Alpaca, the
Guanaco, and the Vicuna.
The Llama and Paca are both held in a state of domestication; the former
as a beast of burden, and the latter for its hair or wool. On the other
hand, the Guanacos and Vicunas are wild animals, and are eagerly hunted
by the mountain tribes of Indians for their flesh and skins, but in the
case of the vicuna for the very fine wool which it yields, and which
commands an enormous price in the markets of Peru.
The Cordilleras of the Andes, below the line of perpetual snow, is the
region inhabited by these creatures. In the hot countries, lying lower,
they do not thrive; and even die in journeys made to the tropic coast
lands. The wild species keep together in herds--sometimes of one or two
hundred individuals--feeding on a sort of rushy grass or reed--called
_yea_ by the natives--and they scarce ever drink, so long as they can
pasture on green herbage. They have the singular habit of going to a
particular spot to drop their dung, which resembles that of goats or
sheep; and this habit often costs them their lives, since the excrement
points out to the hunter their place of resort. They keep a careful
look-out against any danger, usually taking care to place old males as
sentinels of the flock, who give warning of the approach of an enemy.
When startled they run swiftly, but soon halt, stand gazing back, and
then gallop on as before.
During summer they frequent the sides of the mountains; but, as winter
approaches, they descend to the high table plains, and browse upon the
natural meadows found there. They are captured in various ways. The
Indians take them by first surrounding the herd, and then driving it
within enclosures constructed for the purpose. They are also run down
by dogs, trained to hunt them by the mountaineers of Chili, in which
country they are found wild in great numbers. During the chase they
frequently turn upon their pursuer, utter a wild shrill neighing, and
then resume their rapid flight.
The Vicunas--which are the smallest of the four kinds, and also the
prettiest--are captured by the Indians in a still more singular manner.
A large tract of the plains is enclosed merely by a cord, stretched
horizontally upon stakes, of about four feet in height. To the cord are
attached pieces of cloth, feathers, or coloured rags of any kind. Into
this feeble enclosure the herd of vicunas is driven; and, strange to
say, the frightened animals will permit themselves to be crowded
together, and killed with stones rather than leap over the cord.
When any guanacos chance to be mixed up with the herd, the result is
likely to be very different. These, being of bolder spirit, as well as
larger size, at once overleap or break through the fictitious barrier,
and sweep off to the mountains, followed by the whole flock of the
vicunas.
The capability of the llama to carry burdens is well-known. They were
thus employed by the ancient Peruvians, and, although at present they
are less valued on this account, many are still used in carrying the
ores from the rich gold and silver mines of Chili and Peru to the
smelting furnaces, or ports of embarkation on the coast. The
introduction of the mule, however, has to a great extent relieved the
llamas of their load; and less attention is now paid either to their
training or increase.