Mr. O. Thomas on Eqnus Penricei. 465 



LX. — On Equus Penricei, a Representative of the Mountain 

 Zebra (Equus zebra, L.) discovered by Mr. W. Penrice in 

 Angola. By OLDFIELD THOMAS. 



During his last expedition to Angola Mr. W. Penrice 

 discovered an animal which he rightly recognized as a repre- 

 sentative of the Mountain Zebra, hitherto only known * from 

 South Africa, and now, alas, nearly exterminated there. 



Of this most interesting animal he brought home a flat 

 skin, which on examination proves to possess (he deeper and 

 more essential characters of E. zebra, such as the forward 

 slope of the median dorsal hairs, the presence of a " gridiron- 

 pattern " on the rump, &c, but to differ from it so much in 

 other details that it clearly cannot be assigned to the typical 

 form of that species. The only question is as to whether it 

 should be considered a species or subspecies ; but since it is 

 now isolated geographically, and its general appearance is so 

 strikingly different from that of E. zebra, it would seem 

 necessary to call it a species until at least any evidence is 

 brought forward that intermediate specimens occur. To no 

 other species than E. zebra is it at all allied, although the 

 equal striping of the body, the short close fur, and the buffy 

 tone of the light stripes give it a superficial resemblance to 

 E. Grevyi, which it may be said to rival in the extreme 

 handsomeness of its markings. 



Equus Penricei, sp. n. 



Spinal hair-slope, character of rump-stripes, gridiron-pattern 

 of loins, and complete striping of limbs as in E. zebra. Size 

 apparently rather larger than in that animal, but exact 

 measurements are not at present available. Fur short, close, 

 and glossy, the hairs of the back only about5millim. in length, 

 and therefore very different from the comparatively long and 

 shaggy hairs of E. zebra. Light ground-colour not white, as 

 in E. zebra, but buffy or creamy dun, as in E. Grevyi, 

 lightening, however, nearly to white on the belly. Dark 

 bands glossy brownish black. Striping throughout modified 

 from that of E. zebra by the broadening of the light and the 

 narrowing of the dark bands, the light bands being everywhere 

 (with the exception of those on the sides of the neck) as broad 

 as or broader than the dark ones, the latter being far the 



* In Prof. Bocage's " List of the Mammals of Angola " (J. Sci. Lisb. 

 (2) v. p. 23, 1890) " Equus zebra " is included, on the strength of observers 

 who had seen zebras in Southern Angola. Although E. Burckelliis more 

 common there, Bocage's name may in part refer to Penrice's zebra. 



