248 PACHYDERMATA. 



the body are vertical. The abdomen and inside faces of the thighs 

 are cream-white, and the end of the tail is nearly black. This arrange- 

 ment of coloring is strangely similar to that of the tiger, and has earned 

 for the animal the name of " Hippotigris," or Horse-tiger, among some 

 zoologists, ancient and modern. The skin of the neck is developed into 

 a kind of dewlap, and the tail is sparingly covered with coarse black 

 iiair. By the Cape colonists it is called Wilde Paard, or " Wild Horse." 



At the best of times the flesh of the Zebra is not very inviting, being 

 rather tough, coarse, and of a very peculiar flavor. The boers, who 

 call themselves by the title of " baptized men," think they would be 

 derogating from their dignity to partake of the flesh of the zebra, and 

 generously leave the animal to be consumed by their Hottentot ser- 

 vants. AVhen wounded the Zebra gives a kind of groan, which is 

 said to resemble that of a dying man. 



In disposition the Zebra is fierce, obstinate, and nearly untamable. 

 The efforts used by Mr. Karey in reducing to obedience the Zebra of the 

 Zoological Gardens are now matter of history. The little brindled an- 

 imal gave him more trouble than the huge savages on whom he had so 

 successfully operated, and it overset some of his calculations by the fact 

 that it was able to kick as fiercely from three legs as a horse from four. 



In its habits the Zebra resembles the Dziggetai, as it is always found 

 in hilly districts, and inhabits the high craggy mountain-ranges in 

 preference to the plains. It is a mild and very timid animal, fleeing 

 instinctively to its mountain-home as soon as it is alarmed by the sight 

 of a strange object. 



PACHYDERMATA, OR THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS. 



The important family of the Elephantidse includes, according to the 

 catalogue of the British Museum, the Elephants, Tapirs, 8wine, Hyrax, 

 Rhinoceros, and Hippopotamus. All these animals, however difl^erent 

 their aspect, are nearly related to each other by means of certain mem- 

 bers of the family, which, although now extinct, have been recovered 

 through the assistance of geological researches. 



Of Elephants, two distinct species are found in different continents, 

 the one inhabiting Asia, and the other taking up its residence in Africa. 

 According to some zoologists, these animals belong to different genera, 

 but the distinctions between the two creatures are not sufficiently deter- 

 mined to warrant such a suggestion. Although the Asiatic and Af- 

 rican Elephants are very similar in external form, they may at once 

 oe distinguished from each otlier by the size of the ear. In the Asiatic 

 animal the ears are of moderate size, while in the African Elephant 

 they are of enormous magnitude, nearly meeting on the back of the 

 head, and hanging with their tips below the neck. 



