SOME OF THE RUMINANTS.
The domestic animals, such as the cow and sheep, have been introduced
into Africa with great success, but they are not native to the
continent.
Of the ruminants, or cud-chewing animals, of Africa, the giraffe is a
most beautiful yet peculiar specimen. It is found in a wild state only
in South Africa. Its name is taken directly from the Spanish language,
which received the word from the Arabic tongue. The word in the original
signifies _long neck_.
The animal is sometimes called camelopard, from two Greek words which
signify camel and panther, since in some respects it is like a camel,
while its spots are suggestive of the panther.
The first giraffe ever seen in Europe was exhibited in the circus at
Rome under Julius Caesar. Other emperors exhibited them at different
times; but, after the fall of Rome, no living specimen of the animal was
ever taken to Europe until the early part of the present century. At
that time the Pacha of Egypt gave a specimen to France and one to
England.
Since then specimens have often been brought from Africa for exhibition
in menageries, both in England and in our own country.
When full-grown the giraffe is from sixteen to seventeen feet high. This
is nearly three times as tall as a man. The long neck of the animal
enables it to reach the tops of trees, from which it gathers the leaves
as its chief food.
It has a long, slender tongue, which it can extend far out of its mouth
to draw down leaves and branches within its reach.
Two short horns grow between its ears. These are not like those of an
ox, but are merely bones covered with a hairy skin.
The giraffe has rather a short body. The front legs are longer than the
hind legs, so that the body is higher in front than behind. The back
forms a decided slope from the neck to the tail. The legs are slender,
while the feet are cleft, like those of an ox. The skin is of a light
reddish-orange color, marked with large spots of a decidedly darker
shade, and covered with short hairs. Upon the neck is a long mane, and
at the end of the tail is a tuft of black hair.
African travelers state that the giraffe, when found in a wild state, is
much handsomer than when kept in captivity. In a wild state the color of
the skin changes its tints in strong lights and shades, as the animal
moves about.
The giraffe has eyes more beautiful even than those of the gazelle,
according to some writers. It can see to a great distance and has a keen
sense of smell. When the wind is blowing towards it, it can scent a
hunter a long way off. For this reason it is very difficult for a hunter
to approach it. Sometimes he conceals himself behind tall grass and
bushes; but he is often discovered there by the giraffe, for its tall
neck enables it to look over almost any bush.
The giraffe, like the camel, has an awkward gait, since it moves both
legs on one side of its body at a time, as a horse does in pacing. It
can run very fast, and only a very swift horse is ever able to overtake
it. It usually lives in families of a dozen or more. The home is
generally along the edges of the deserts. Instinct seems to teach the
animal to make its home where it can see in all directions and be on the
watch for its enemies, the lion and the panther.
In the open country the giraffe can usually get away by running; but
should it be attacked in the woods, it strikes out for its foe with
great force from its fore feet. The blow often disables or kills its
enemy, though sometimes the giraffe is overpowered and killed.
The Hottentots lie in ambush around the haunts of the giraffe, chiefly
where it has watering places. They kill it by means of poisoned arrows.
The flesh is eaten, and the thick skin is made into cups, leather
bottles, and straps.
The Arabs, too, hunt the giraffe. They are very fond of its flesh, and
out of its skin they make leather shields. Its sinews and tendons they
make into thread and strings.
The giraffe, as we see it in the menageries, has probably been kept in
captivity from babyhood. It is very seldom that a full-grown specimen
is caught. When a baby giraffe is captured it soon becomes tamed,
provided it can be made to eat. Often, however, it will refuse all food,
and will pine for its mother, like any other baby. It soon dies then for
lack of nourishment.
In the menageries the keepers feed the giraffe upon grain, Indian corn,
carrots, and hay.
The buffalo is probably the fiercest and the most powerful of all the
cud-chewing animals. The Cape buffalo is regarded by naturalists as
quite a distinct species from other buffaloes. It is about eight feet
long from the base of the horns to the tail, and stands five and
one-half feet high. It is considered much more formidable than any other
animal of South Africa. This species does not seem to have ever been
domesticated, although there is good reason to believe that it could be.
Its horns are very large and spread out almost horizontally over the top
of the head. They then bend downward and at the ends take an upward
turn. Like the common buffalo, the animal carries its muzzle in a
projecting position, with its horns reclining on its shoulders. As it
grows older, the narrow space between the horns at the base becomes
filled with solid bone as hard as iron. It is thus able to defend itself
against any enemy, whether man or beast.
The buffalo is almost always a match for a lion or a leopard. A herd of
buffaloes will become as much excited at the sight of a lion as oxen
would over a strange dog. If the lion does not succeed in escaping, the
herd will kill him by tossing him from one to another on their horns and
trampling him under foot.
On no account will a hunter provoke an encounter with a buffalo, unless
the chances are greatly in his own favor, and unless he has every
facility for escape. Its great size and strength render it a formidable
foe. It is still found in large herds in the interior of South Africa.
In Cape Colony, however, though once very common, it is now seldom seen.
The hide of the buffalo is so tough and thick that the Kaffirs make
their shields of it. These shields are impenetrable even to musket shot.
Huntsmen in shooting at buffaloes use bullets mixed with tin; yet these
often become flattened when they strike the tough, resisting hide of the
animal.
Its coat is of very scant, irregular hair, somewhat bristly in
appearance, and often so thin that the smooth brown skin shines through
when the sunlight falls upon it. The smooth, oily polish of the skin is
no addition to the appearance of the animal. In fact, it is rather an
unpleasant feature of it.
The buffalo is well adapted for marshy districts. It will frequently
immerse itself in muddy waters, till only its head can be seen. Here it
will stand for hours, protecting its body from insects by a coating of
mud. Its food consists of coarse, rank herbage common to the marshes.
For this food it seems to have a preference.
The Cape buffalo has a habit of grazing generally in the evening. During
the day it lies at rest in the woods and thickets.