COMMON ZEBRA OR BONTE-QUAGGA 683 



disturbed only by the ravages of the Hon. Most of the 

 zebra's existence is spent in eating, and most of the remain- 

 der in sleeping or in drowsy rest. If undisturbed and un- 

 alarmed the herds, after drinking, graze off toward their 

 favorite feeding grounds, or, if the grass is poor in the inter- 

 vening country, walk or canter toward them, strung out in 

 Indian file. After eating their temporary fill of grass they 

 rest for three or four hours, sometimes lying down, more 

 often standing. Most often they maj^ be found resting right 

 in the open plain; but if a clump of thorn-trees is handy 

 they may stand or lie in the slight shade of their thinly 

 leaved branches. After resting the herd rises and slowly 

 grazes back to the water-hole or river. They may drink 

 only once a day, but they are thirsty animals and prefer 

 to visit the water at least twice every twenty-four hours. 

 We have seen them drink in the morning and afternoon 

 and late evening; they also drink at night. Noon is their 

 favorite hour for rest, but they are by no means regular, 

 and they sometimes rest at night, although we believe that 

 they generally spend the night feeding, and are then more 

 alert than in the daytime. 



Night is the lion's hunting season, and the sight or 

 smell of him or even the suspicion of him at that time 

 throws the animals he hunts into a frenzy of terror. 

 Under the influence of these ever-recurring panics, the 

 zebras stampede in a mad rush. This habit makes them 

 obnoxious to the settlers, for they are powerful animals 

 with thick skins, and in such a stampede they go right 

 through any wire fence; while they are of no value to 

 the settlers except for their hides, as their flesh is not 

 good eating from the white man's standpoint, although 



