THE ASSES AND ZEBRAS 89 



( North Bechuanaland) at the present day; but between 

 that country and the north of British East Africa it 

 may still be found ranging freely in large herds. It 

 is familiar in Portuguese West Africa (Angola), but 

 in this part of the continent is not, I believe, known 

 north of the Equator. Many varieties are found in 

 different localities, some quite unstriped about the 

 legs, others faintly striped, others having markings 

 more or less down to the fetlock. Some naturalists 

 have tried to establish new species or sub-species from 

 these variations. These attempts have not yet been 

 received among field naturalists with great gratitude, 

 nor are they fully recognised even among scientists. 

 Burchell's zebra is more equine in type than either 

 the mountain, Grant's, or even Grevy's zebra. It 

 has much shorter ears, and a somewhat bushier and 

 more horse-like tail. The banded mane comes well 

 over the forehead. The stripings differ widely from 

 those of the other zebras, especially in the charac- 

 teristic shadow- mar kings found between the dark 

 stripes. In a Central African variety, however, these 

 shadow stripes are found lacking, although in other 

 respects the animal is of the Burchell type. A good 

 Burchell's zebra will stand as much as 13 hands, or a 

 little more, at the withers. This animal runs in good- 

 sized troops, numbering occasionally as many as a 

 hundred, and is most usually to be found grazing on 

 the plains in company with blue wildebeest, hartebeest, 

 tsesseby, eland, buffalo, ostriches, and other game. 

 Wherever blue wildebeest are to be found, there, as 

 an almost invariable rule, you will find the Burchell's 



