not a variety of any known species, so you can well see his importance and the interest that his discovery has aroused-particularly in the scientific world. Animal species have been developed from a few forms, and we can find many of the links that connect them; but here and there are gaps, and it is often difficult to find the links that complete the chain. The Okapi fills one of these gaps. He stands between the giraffe and antelope, and partakes of the character of each. He is found in the forests of central Africa, and bears a strong resemblance to a fossil beast whose skeleton, though larger, is of about the same proportions, and undoubtedly that of an ancestor.

The okapi stands about five feet high at the shoulder. The body, which is covered with thick, close hair, is a brilliant brown but looks very blue in the light. The color of the head, which is a cream-yellow, commences abruptly at the neck, where the body color ends. The muzzle is like that of the giraffe, tapering, and the lips are used for cropping leaves, which the molar teeth grind. There are three projections on the skull, covered with flesh and hair like those of the giraffe. The legs and hind quarters are striped, and on this account many people have made the mistake of calling him a zebra, to which animal he does not bear the slightest resemblance. His hoof is cloven, like the giraffe's and antelope's, and enables him to speed over marshy ground without sinking. Now, the zebra would have a single toe (or a solid hoof), which is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the horse family. The mistake arose from the fact that Stanley, in his "Darkest Africa," spoke of horses inhabiting the forests of the Uganda district, relying on the statements of the natives. Sir Harry Johnston, however, when in Africa, determined to investigate the matter. Knowing it contrary to the nature of a horse to live in forests, he was anxious to see just what this creature might be, his interest being furthermore excited by seeing ornaments and waist-aprons worn by the natives made from this queer-looking skin. Upon inquiry, he found the okapi to be a common animal in these parts. They were said to go in pairs, though probably they also roam in herds. The meat affords excellent eating to

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the tribes in this district, who are principally little dwarfs who subsist for the most part on the animals they hunt. These dwarfs are warlike in disposition, rather shy, and exceedingly averse to having strangers visit their country; and as they are quite a powerful people when banded together, they will probably prove a great obstacle to our becoming better acquainted with this new animal. They catch the okapi by digging holes in the ground, over which they loosely strew leaves and branches, making pitfalls into which the unwary animal easily strays. They gave the okapi his name, but in pronouncing it they leave out the k and in its stead make a clicking sound peculiar to their language.

There is a theory that the ancient stories of gnomes and other myths were founded upon acquaintance with these little people before they wandered into Africa.

Scant as is the clothing worn by these dwarfs, it is curious that it should have been their garments that led to the discovery of the okapi. Sir Harry Johnston secured two of the aprons made from the skin; but having been taken ill and being compelled to leave the trying climate of Africa, he succeeded in obtaining only two skulls and a skin, which were presented to him by a Belgian officer.

There is no accounting for the strange stripings on the okapi, unless they are the remnants of markings handed down from some ancestor who perhaps was striped all over, for in that remote period nature may have known the necessity of providing him with this defense against his more powerful enemies. Standing still among the trees and leaves, his dark body would mimic the shadows, and the bright parts bear so strong a resemblance to the light that many a crafty foe would overlook him amid his surroundings. This we know—that the okapi is marked in just the way that an animal living in the woods or jungle would be marked. If he lived upon the plains he would probably be of a uniform color, as the lion is, and resemble the rocks.

We hope some living specimens of the okapi will be brought to our country in time, and that we may see them in our zoos, and can form for ourselves some opinion of this new creature.