ZEBRAS. 



(Oct. 7, 1893.) 



AMONG the rarer animals that have recently died 

 in the Zoo, certainly not the least noticeable were 

 the common zebras (Equus zebra) of which, until 

 in 1892, the Society was fortunate enough to 

 possess two specimens, a male and a female, the 

 former obtained so long ago as December 11, 1886, 

 while the latter was "received in exchange" July 

 23, 1889. 



The term " common" is certainly not well 

 applied in the case of this zebra, as it was always 

 the rarest of the three South African zebras, and 

 is now fast verging on extinction. "True zebra," 

 or "mountain zebra," names which have been 

 applied to it, are less misleading; the latter, 

 indeed, seems to us the best of all, as the animal 

 is essentially an inhabitant of mountainous dis- 

 tricts. In menageries the common zebra has 

 always been rare ; and we believe that the Zoo- 

 logical Society have had but two specimens in 

 their possession before the pair which have lately 

 died, Burchell's zebra (Eguus Burchelli), an in- 

 habitant of the plains and open country, being 



