QUAGGA 53 



and lived in the menagerie till June 1864. About ten living examples 

 of the quagga appear to have been exhibited from time to time in 

 menageries. Three skins, a skeleton, and two skulls represent the 

 quagga in the United Kingdom, in addition to which two other skeletons 

 have been stated to belong to this species. Continental museums are 

 more fortunate, possessing among them, in addition to several skeletons 

 and skulls, no less than eleven mounted skins, one of which is that of a 

 foetus. In the South African Museum this once abundant species is 

 represented only by a foal. A skeleton at Philadelphia, said to be that 

 of a quagga, completes the list of known remains. 



It is very probable that several local races of the quagga formerly 

 existed, and four of these have already been recognised and named. 

 In the case of an extinct species it is, however, difficult to arrive at any 

 satisfactory conclusion with regard to its local forms ; and, in any case, 

 a discussion of these would have but little interest for sportsmen. 



The following observations in regard to the colouring of quaggas 

 and zebras were contributed by Mr. R. I. Pocock to Nature for 1903. 



The testimony of observers in the field has established the truth 

 that the coloration of the coat renders a zebra invisible under three 

 conditions, namely, at a distance on the open plain in mid-day, at close 

 quarters in the dusk and on moonlit nights, and in the covert afforded 

 by thickets. One reason for this is the blending of the white stripes 

 with the shafts of light sifted through the foliage and branches and 

 reflected by the leaves of the trees, so that in an uncertain light or at 

 long range these mutually counteract each other and fuse to a uniform 

 grey. It is also probable that the alternate arrangement of the black 

 and white bars contributes something to the effect produced, by im- 

 parting a blurred appearance to the body and destroying the evenness 

 of its surface owing to the difference in light-reflecting power between 

 hairs of these hues. Again, the extension of the stripes to the edge 

 of the body and legs breaks up the continuity of the outline, this 

 being apparently the reason for the alteration in their direction on the 

 hind-quarters and limbs, so that, except on the forehead, the whole 

 animal is barred transversely with reference to the lines of its spine 

 and limbs. 



When a quagga lies down, with the hind-quarters depressed, the 

 fore-legs folded, and the hind-legs tucked in close to the body, the 

 white on the back of the thighs is brought into line with that of the 

 under- parts, and a continuous expanse of white, obliterating the 

 shadow, extends all along the under side from the knee to the root 

 of the tail. The same is the case with the under-mentioned bonte- 



