THE ZEBRA 287 



carrying burdens, in rocky regions where a horse would be 

 practically useless. 



ZEBRA (Equus Zebra). 

 Coloured Plate XVII. Fig. 3. 



The true Zebra was at one time found in large numbers 

 in the mountainous regions of Cape Colony, for which 

 reason it was called the Mountain Zebra. In modern 

 times it has been almost exterminated, and there remain 

 only a few, that are strictly preserved in some of the more 

 remote districts. It is a singularly handsome animal, four 

 to four and a half feet high at the withers. Upon a 

 groundwork of white is a series of glossy jet-black stripes, 

 extending from its nostrils to its hoofs, excepting only the 

 white under parts. The muzzle is brown ; the tail is 

 scantily haired, except at the tip. The animal is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to approach, not only on account of its 

 watchfulness and agility, but equally so because of the 

 difficult country which it inhabits. While feeding on the 

 hillsides, sentinels are posted, and the moment there is any 

 cause for alarm the animals are off like the wind. 



BurchelPs Zebra (Equus burchelli) is a native of the 

 plains to the north of the Kalihari desert and in the 

 Zambesi regions. It is a little taller than the last named, 

 and in colour it is more yellowish-brown ; the greater part 

 of the legs is white, without the dark stripes, or at best only 

 faint ones. It is strong and muscular, and its bony limbs 

 suggest that it would make an excellent beast of burden. 

 It has been used by the Dutch colonists in harness with 

 mules, but not very successfully ; the Mountain Zebra was 

 practically fairly tractable in harness, but always returned 

 to its stall with such ungovernable fury as to endanger the 

 lives of those whose duty it was to stable it. On the 

 other hand the Hon. Walter Rothschild had a team of 

 four Zebras at Tring Park that were extremely docile. 



In Burchell's Zebra the senses of sight, hearing, and 

 smell are particularly acute. Any object with which they 

 are unfamiliar, or the slightest taint in the air, immediately 



