THE ZEBRA. 25 



stately and spirited, the ass the most patient, and the zebra the 

 most beautiful, although the wildest quadruped that nature has 

 produced. 



THE ZEBRA, 



In shape, has a resemblance to the mule ; for it is less than 

 the horse, and larger than the ass ; but it is chiefly prized for 

 the exquisite beauty of its skin, the smoothness of which nothing 

 can surpass. Nor can any thing exceed the beautiful regularity 

 of its colours, which in the male are white and brown, and in 

 the female white and black, ranged in alternate stripes over the 

 whole body, in a style so beautiful and ornamental, that it might, 

 at the first sight, seem the effect of the most exquisite art, rather 

 than the genuine production of nature. The head is adorned 

 with beautiful and regular stripes, which converge into a central 

 point in the forehead : the neck is ornamented in the same man- 

 ner, with fine rings which surround it : the thighs, legs, and even 

 the tail, are beautified in the same style of elegance ; and every 

 part is equally decorated. What is particularly remarkable in 

 the colouring of the zebra is, that the stripes, which constitute 

 its peculiar ornament, are disposed with such exactness of dis- 

 tance, that the most consummate artist could not draw lines with 

 more perfect regularity. It seems as if, in the adorning of this 

 extraordinary animal, the Creator had given the command to 

 Nature, to display her utmost skill, and in the formation of its 

 stripes, to bid defiance to the line and compass. 



Such is the beauty of the zebra ; but it has hitherto been es- 

 teemed absolutely untameable. It must, however, be confessed, 

 that no effectual method has yet been adopted for that purpose. 

 Resembling the horse in its form, as well as its manner of living, 

 it might seem, that it possesses a similitude of nature ; and 

 some naturalists suppose, that with proper management it might 

 be converted to the same uses. This opinion, however, is but ill 

 supported by experience ; for those that have been brought to 

 this country, have discovered a degree of viciousness, that has 

 rendered it unsafe to approach them. The zebra, which was long 

 kept in the royal menagerie, in France, was exceedingly wild at 

 its arrival, and was never completely tamed. He was, indeed, 

 broken for the saddle, but his untractableness rendered great 

 precaution necessary ; and two men were obliged to hold the 

 bridle while another was riding him. Some suppose, that if this 

 animal were completely domesticated, and a tame breed pro- 

 duced, it might then be brought under the same management as 

 the horse. A beautiful male zebra, at Exeter-change, London, 

 which was afterwards burnt to death, by the mischievous act of 

 a monkey setting fire to the straw on which he lay, appeared to 



C 



