THE ZEBRA 429 



Thus, in the desert of the Meritsane, Major Harris, after 

 crossing a park of magnificent camelthorn trees, soon perceived 

 large herds of quaggas and brindled gnus, which continued to 

 join each other, until the whole plain seemed alive. The clatter 

 of their hoofs was perfectly astounding, and could be compared to 

 nothing but to the din of a tremendous charge of cavalry, or the 

 rushing of a mighty tempest. The accumulated numbers could 

 not be estimated at less than 15,000, a great extent of country 

 being actually chequered black and white with their congregated 

 masses. 



The Douw, or Burchell's Zebra, differs little from the common 

 quagga in point of shape or size ; but 

 while the latter is faintly striped only 

 on the head and neck, the former is 

 adorned over every part of the body 

 with broad black bands, beautifully con- 

 trasting with a pale yellow ground. 



Major Harris, who had so many op- 

 portunities of seeing this fine species in 



a state of nature, remarks that — " Beautifully clad by the 

 hand of nature, possessing much of the graceful symmetry of 

 the horse, with great bones and muscular power, united to easy 

 and stylish action, thus combining comeliness of figure with 

 solidity of form, this species, if subjugated and domesticated, 

 would assuredly make the best pony in the world. Although it 

 admits of being tamed to a certain extent with the greatest 

 facility — a half-domesticated specimen, with a jockey on its 

 brindled back, being occasionally exposed in Cape Town for sale — 

 it has hitherto contrived to evade the yoke of servitude. The 

 senses of sight, hearing, and smell, are extremely delicate. The 

 slightest noise or motion, no less than the appearance of. any 

 object that is unfamiliar, at once rivets their gaze, and causes 

 them to stop and listen with the utmost attention ; any taint in 

 the air equally attracting their olfactory organs. 



" Instinct having taught these beautiful animals that in union 

 consists their strength, they combine in a compact body when 

 menaced by an attack, either from man or beast; and, if overtaken 

 by the foe, they unite for mutual defence, with their heads 

 together in a close circular band, presenting their heels to the 

 enemy, and dealing out kicks in equal force and abundance. 

 Beset on all sides, or partially crippled, they rear on their hinder 



