334 



UNGULATA 



either of the others, and differs from them in external appearance, 

 having more the aspect of the horse. They are all remarkably 

 swift, having been known to outstrip the fleetest Horse in speed. 



Lastly, there are four striped species, all inhabitants of Africa. 

 These constitute the genus Hippotigris of Hamilton-Smith, but they 

 are not separable except by their coloration from the true Asses, 

 and one of them, the Quagga (E. quagga), may be considered as 

 intermediate. This animal Avas formerly met with in vast herds on 

 the great plains of South Africa, between the Cape Colony and the 

 Vaal River, but now, in common with most of the larger wild 

 animals of that region, is becoming extremely scarce, owing to the 



Fig. 160.— The Quagga (Equus quagga). 



encroachments of European civilisation, if, indeed, it is not already 

 extinct. In length of ears and character of tail it more resembles 

 the Horse than it does the Ass, although it agrees with the latter in 

 wanting the callosity on the inner side of the hind leg, just below 

 the hock, characteristic of the Horse. The colour of the head, neck, 

 and upper parts of the body is reddish-brown, irregularly banded 

 and marked with dark brown stripes, stronger on the head and 

 neck and gradually becoming fainter until lost behind the shoulder. 

 There is a broad dark median dorsal stripe. The under surface of 

 the body, the legs, and tail are nearly white, without stripes. The 

 crest is very high, surmounted by a standing mane, banded alter- 

 nately brown and white. Though never really domesticated, 

 Quaggas have occasionally been trained to harness. The accom- 

 panying figure is reduced from a painting made from one of a pair 

 which were driven in Hyde Park in the early part of the present 



