174 THE GREAT THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS 



erect and bushy, alternately banded with black and white, as are the 

 ears. On the face are brown stripes terminating in a bay nose. 

 Another oddity is the l^are spot on each of the four legs just above the 

 knee. The female zebra is similar but smaller. 



The true zebra inhabits the hilly districts of Southern Africa, and 

 is remarkable for its beauty and fierce and untamable nature. It is by 

 far the most conspicuous and most beautiful of the horse tribe. The 

 stripes which distinguish it from the ordinary asses are remarkably 

 like those of the tiger in their arrangement. Those on its legs are 

 horizontal, while those of its body are for the most part vertical. 



The zebra resembles the horse in its symmetry of shape, but is 

 much handsomer in appearance, — its white body being elegantly 

 marked with narrow bands of black. It was called the tiger-ass, by 

 the ancients. ]t is a shy, wary, and obstinate animal; but there seems 

 no reason why it should not be domesticated and made useful. In 

 its native regions it prefers the loneliest and wildest localities, where 

 it grazes, along with its fellows, on the steep declivities ; sentinels being 

 posted on the most elevated rocks to give notice of the approach of 

 an enemy. 



The signal is a loud, melancholy neigh, whereupon, with pricked 

 ears and tails whisked to and fro, the whole herd gallops off to some 

 remote spot. Strange to say, it permits the gnoo to occupy the same 

 feeding-grounds, and troops of gnoos and zebras generally mingle in 

 one immense herd. 



Burchell's Zebra. — Another variety of this species is known as 

 Burchell's zebra. This animal is a little larger than the common 

 species, standing about four feet six inches and with an extreme length 

 of eight feet six inches. The body is round and supported on sturdy 

 legs. The crest is arched and surmounted by a standing mane five 

 inches high and blended black and white. In contrast with the pre- 

 ceding species, the tail and ears arc like those of a horse. The tail 

 is thirty-five inches long, flowing and white. The nuizzle is ])kick and 

 the coat short and glossy. In further contrast to the common zebra, 

 the ground color of the coat is sienna or reddish 1:)rown, irregularly 

 banded wnth black and deep brown transverse stripes forming various 

 figures. The belly and legs are pure white. 



