EQUID^E 387 



black stripes of the flanks and haunches fainter stripes are generally 

 seen. 



E. grevyi. Under this name a Zebra has been described which 

 was sent in 1882 to Paris from the Galla country, lying to the 

 south of Abyssinia, the most northern locality in which Zebras have 

 previously been met Avith. In many of its characters it resembles 

 E. zebra, but the stripes are much finer and more numerous than in 

 the typical examples of that species, and it has a strong, black, and 

 isolated dorsal stripe. Even allowing for the great variations that 

 are met with in the markings of animals of this group, the aberrant 

 characters of this individual are quite sufficient to separate it specific- 

 ally from the true Zebra of South Africa. Other similar specimens 

 have been recently brought from the Somali country. 



The flesh of the Zebras is relished by the natives as food, and their 

 hides are very valuable for leather. Although the many attempts 

 that have been made to break in and train these animals for riding 

 or driving have sometimes been rewarded with partial success, they 

 have never been domesticated in the true sense of the word. 



There are thus at least seven modifications of the Horse type at 

 present existing, sufficiently distinct to be reckoned as species by 

 all zoologists, and easily recognised by their external characters. 

 They are, however, all so closely allied that each will, at least in a 

 state of domestication or captivity, breed with perfect freedom with 

 any of the others. Cases of cross breeds are recorded between the 

 Horse and the Quagga, the Horse and Burchell's Zebra, the Horse 

 and the Hemionus or Asiatic wild Ass, the common Ass and the 

 Zebra, the common Ass and Burchell's Zebra, the common Ass and 

 the Hemionus, the Hemionus and the Zebra, and the Hemionus and 

 Biu'chell's Zebra. The two species which are perhaps the farthest 

 removed in general structure, the Horse and the Ass, produce, as is 

 well known, hybrids or Mules, which in some qualities useful to 

 man excel both their progenitors, and in some countries, and 

 for certain kinds of work, are in greater requisition than either. 

 Although occasional instances have been recorded of female Mules 

 breeding with the males of one or other of the pure species, it is 

 doubtful if any case has occurred of their breeding inter se, although 

 the opportunities of doing so must have been great, as Mules have 

 been reared in immense numbers for at least several thousands of 

 years. We may therefore consider it settled that the different 

 species of the group are now in that degree of physiological differ- 

 entiation which enables them to produce offspring with each other, 

 but does not permit of the progeny continuing the race, at all events 

 unless reinforced by the aid of one of the pure forms. 



The several members of the group show mental differences 

 quite as striking as those exhibited by their external form, and 

 more than perhaps might be expected from the similarity of their 



