The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 280, October 27, 1827 — John Shaqi
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 280, October 27, 1827Various
General
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 280, October 27, 1827
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
As a live camelopard has been sent to London and another to Paris, the
history and habits of these animals have excited some interest. At a
meeting of the Academy of Sciences in Paris, on the 2nd of July last, M.
Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire observed that naturalists were wrong in supposing
that there was only one species of the camelopard. The animal now in
Paris differs from the Cape of Good Hope species by several essential
anatomical characters, and he proposes to distinguish it by the name of
the _Giraffe of Sennaar_, the country from which it comes. Some natives
of Egypt having come to see the one in Paris in the costume of the
country, the animal gave evident proofs of joy, and loaded them with
caresses. This fact is explained by the circumstance that the Giraffe
has an ardent affection for its Arabian keeper, and that it naturally is
delighted with the sight of the turban and the costume of its keeper.
Some authors have proved the mildness and docility of the camelopard,
while others represent it as incapable of being tamed. This difference
is ascribed by M. Saint-Hilaire to difference of education. Four or
five years ago a male Giraffe, extremely savage, was brought to
Constantinople. The keeper of the present Giraffe had also the charge
of this one, and he ascribes its savageness entirely to the manner in
which it was treated. At the same time M. Mongez read a memoir on the
testimony of ancient authors respecting the Giraffe. Moses is the
first author who speaks of it. As Aristotle does not mention it, M.
Mongez supposes that it was unknown to the Greeks, and that it did not
then exist in Egypt, otherwise Aristotle, who travelled there, must
have known about it. In the year 708 of Rome, Julius Caesar brought
one to Europe, and the Roman emperors afterwards exhibited them at
Rome, either for the games in the circus, or in their triumphs over
the African princes. Albertus Magnus, in his _Treatise de Animalibus_,
is the first modern author who speaks of the Giraffe. In 1486, one of
the Medici family possessed one at Florence, where it lived for a
considerable time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account