ZEBRAS AND ASSES 279 



of Figs. 218, 219, 220 and 221 will at once show that in Grevy's 

 Zebra the stripes which run transversely across the sides of the body 

 are much more numerous than in the other beasts, and "the obliquely 

 longitudinal ones on the haunches are proportionately shortened." 

 Whilst Burchell's Zebra is a dweller upon the plains, Gravy's Zebra 

 (which was first discovered by the two well-known explorers, Colonel 

 J. A. Grant and Speke in the mountainous country north of the 

 Victoria Nyanza) is a lover of the forest and is rarely found away 

 from it, in the neighbourhood of water and hills. The noise made 

 by Burchell's Zebra has been compared to the subdued whining 

 bark of a Dog, but Colonel Grant says that the first time he heard 

 the neighing of Grevy's^ Zebra he "mistook it for that of a bird, and 

 could scarcely be persuaded till I heard the decided Donkey-notes 

 following the shriller sounds." This Zebra travels about in small 

 companies consisting of only a few individuals, and it is stated, by 

 the same capable explorer already referred to, that probably the 

 largest male of the little troop takes general charge. 



MOUNTAIN ZEBRA. — At one time a common species deserving 

 of being known as such, the Mountain Zebra (Fig. 221 and 

 Coloured Plate XVII), has now almost entirely disappeared 

 from the mountains of Cape Colony, only a few herds still 

 remaining on the higher ranges, where, it is pleasant to relate, 

 they are rigorously protected. This is a lover of high altitudes, 

 resorting to hilly districts, and is the smallest of the few species 

 known to us. It does not attain a much greater height than about 

 four feet at the withers, and it is as well to emphasize that, although 

 the ears are long, the mane is short, and the tail is not very well 

 haired. Generally, the Mountain Zebra is white on the greater part 

 of the body, with bright brown on the lower part of the face, and 

 black stripes. These stripes are well distributed, as Fig. 221 dis- 

 plays, only the belly and inner sides of the thigh being devoid of 

 these highly ornamental markings. The short gridiron-like stripes 

 along the back have already been mentioned earlier in this chapter, 

 but should not be overlooked. 



QUAGGA. — The Quagga, or Cougga, as it is also called, because 

 of the shrill nature of its voice, may well be mentioned here before 

 passing on to the Wild Asses, as it is a connecting link between 

 the Zebras and the last-named as recently referred to. 



Its general colour is a sort of combination between the two kinds 

 of animals mentioned, but in other respects — as, for instance, the 



