TELEGONY AND REVERSION. 85 



U.F.S.) occupy the space between the two divisions of the 

 croup stripe. The anterior limbs of these arches usually 

 blend or all but blend with the first of the complete femoral 

 stripes (Fig-. 24, 1.F.S.). Between the croup stripe and the 

 root of the tail there are at least twenty narrow stripes 

 which arch backwards. These stripes begin some distance 

 from the dorsal band,* and form with the corresponding- 

 stripes of the opposite side a series of arches which 

 diminish in size from before backwards (Fig. 22). Trans- 

 verse markings extend across the tail to near where the 

 long hairs of the tip spring; in some cases not a few of the 

 caudal markings blend to form two narrow bands — one at 

 each side of the tail. 



It is difficult if not impossible to identify a croup stripe 

 in the mountain zebra {E. zebra, Fig. 26), or in any of 

 the Burchell zebras. Nevertheless I shall endeavour to 

 show that a certain amount of resemblance exists between 

 the stripes of the Somali and all the other zebras. In 

 Matopo a pronounced band may be traced from the root of 

 the tail (with the stripes of which it is in line) forwards 

 over the external point of the ilium (haunch) across the 

 flank, to curve downwai^ds and inwards and finally end 

 in the ventral band. This, which may be known as the 

 caudal or great flank stripe (Fig. 23, G.F.S.), is present in 

 all the Burchell skins I have examined. With the excep- 

 tion of the Burchell zebra proper, there are in all the 

 Bui-chell varieties and sub-species I have seen two other 

 well-marked flank stripes. The lowest of these (Fig. 23, 

 L.F.S.) is intimately related to the stifle (knee proper), at 

 or near which it frequently bifurcates, one division, usually 

 slender, running down in front of the stifle, the other or 

 main division (Fig. 18) extending forwards and inwards to- 

 wards the ventral band. This may be known as the stifle or 



* 111 some of the Somali zebras the narrow transverse (croup) stripes 

 are at their origin only a short distance from the dorsal band; in others a 

 fairly wide light space intervenes between the croup stripes and this band. 

 But when the croup stripes all but reach the dorsal band, they are for an 

 inch or two only faintly coloured. 



