THE DAINTY GIRAFFE 79 demonstrates an exact appreciation of adapted strategy.

Far away, too, in the wilderness of thorn scrub was a slanting patch of brown, crowned by two small prominences visible against the skyline as they topped the trees. The glass revealed a living animal of large dimensions, chestnut in its figured markings, dainty and supercilious in every movement and expression.

The giraffe in these qualities brings to one's mind the high - bred, supersensitive and ultra - refined maiden lady of mellow age, to whom the propinquity of the world is a desecration, whom the touch of a flower would almost defile, and who lives in a perpetual detachment of self from aught that approaches the common conditions of life.

Keen vision is the defence of the giraffe, aided by the eminence from which he views the neighbourhood ; but if one of those great legs came into play with a well-planted blow, naught else would be required to silence even the stoutest of enemies.

As 1 cautiously approached under cover of a bush, he ceased browsing on the topmost leaves of the mimosa, and it was only by spreading wide his immense front -legs that even his lengthy neck enabled him to pluck the grass beneath him.

At various times I have found the bones of this timid and harmless animal bleaching in the sun, showing that the lion had evaded his telescopic sight, and had struck him unawares, perhaps at night. But now he was on the qui vive, and full