Monthly Archives: January 2008

Church lantern

Weather beaten lantern hanging from a church in Doylestown, PA.

Trixi

Trixi, from Lengerich, Germany. If only people would sit this nicely for their portraits.

Portrait of giraffe

The tallest animal on the ground, giraffes can reach up to 19 feet in height. Females are slightly shorter than males, topping out at 16 feet, but both genders display brown, patterned coats. The Baringo giraffe’s front legs are longer than the back legs, giving the body as a whole a sloping appearance.

Baringo giraffes use their extremely long (up to 18 inches), manipulative tongues to gather leaves in the wild. The tongue is flexible enough to pluck preferred acacia leaves while avoiding the acacia tree’s accompanying thorns. Males gather their food from the tops of trees, while females browse at lower levels. This strategy enables them to share habitats without competing directly for food.