258 MOSTLY MAMMALS 



over with herds of Burchell's zebra, the aforesaid bonte 

 quagga, which, inclusive of its local races, has a very 

 extensive geographical distribution in East and Central 

 Africa. It is scarcely necessary to say that this species 

 differed from the quagga in having the whole or the 

 greater part of the body striped, as well as by the more 

 brilliant coloration and the pattern of the striping. One 

 very remarkable feature in connection with this species 

 must not be passed over without notice. In the original 

 and typical race (now nearly extinct), which was obtained 

 just north of the Vaal River, in British Bechuanaland, 

 and therefore immediately adjacent to the northern limits 

 of the quagga, the whole of the legs, as well as a 

 considerable portion of the hindquarters, are devoid of 

 stripes. In this respect the typical form of the Transvaal 

 species comes much nearer to the last-mentioned animal 

 than do the races from more northern districts, in which 

 the hindquarters and legs are more or less completely 

 striped ; the striping attaining its fullest development in 

 the most northern race of all, the so-called Grant's zebra 

 of Somaliland and Abyssinia. 



Of course, these gradations towards the quagga type of 

 coloration of the more southern representatives of Burchell's 

 zebra, as well as the differences in the coloration of the 

 quagga itself as compared with zebras, have a meaning 

 and a reason, if only they could be discovered. And it 

 may be remarked incidentally in this place that unless we 

 attempt to account rationally for such variations, there is 

 little justification for the modern practice of distinguishing 

 between the local races of variable species. 



The striping of the zebras, which there is considerable 

 cause for regarding as the primitive type of coloration of 

 the horse family in general, is evidently of a protective nature. 



