MAMMALIA.- 



-Kn, 



179 



Captain Harris justly remarks, the period is not remote 

 when confusion rode rampant on the question under 

 consideration ! " Disguised in a tail borrowed from 

 the rump of the domestic ass, the subject of the 

 annexed portrait (fig. 67) sat for its picture to M. 

 Buffon, and may be found in the voluminous works of 

 that eminent author, doing duty for a female zebra! 

 Even Baron Cuvier has fallen into the error of describ- 

 ing the Quagga to be the proprietor of an asinine tail 

 a mistake which is the more surprising since it is stated 

 by the same author in his 'Eegne Animal,' that 'among 

 the equipages occasionally exhibited in the gay season 

 in Hyde Park, and other fashionable places of resort, 

 may be seen a curricle drawn by two couaggas, which 

 seem as subservient to the curb and whip as any well- 

 trained horses.' " The average height of the Quagga 

 is about four feet and four inches at the shoulder. In 

 its native haunts it is sociable and peaceable ; but if 

 roused by an enemy it exhibits great courage, and is 

 said to repel the attacks of large carnivora, on some 

 occasions at least, successfully. Its voice is not unlike 

 the bark of a dog. 



THE ZEBRA (Hippotigris Zebra), or WILDE PAARD 

 of the Cape colonists Plate 24, fig. 79 occupies the 

 mountainous parts of Southern Africa. It is somewhat 

 less in height than the Quagga ; the mane being erect 

 and bushy, with alternating bands of black and white. 

 The entire body, head, and limbs are striped with 



narrow black bands, the upper ones being united to 

 the central longitudinal streak on the back. The 

 general ground-colour of the hide is white. The hoofs 

 are narrow, and much hollowed out at the sole. Zebras 

 are very shy and gregarious in their habits, living in 

 troops sometimes numbering upwards of a hundred 

 individuals. In a domesticated state numerous hybrids 

 have been produced by association with the horse and 

 ass. The flesh of the zebra, though eatable, is coarse, 

 oily, and unpalatable. According to the testimony of Mr. 

 Andersson, the subdued neighings of the Zebra have a 

 very melancholy character when heard at a distance ; 

 and, on one occasion, this enterprising sportsman 

 mistook its moribund groanings for the gasping ejacu- 

 lations of a drowning man. The female is furnished 

 with two mammaB. 



BTTRCHELL'S ZEBRA (Hippotigris Burchellii) is an 

 inhabitant of the plains of Southern Africa to the north 

 of Orange river. The Cape colonists call it Bonti 

 Quagga, and by the native Bechuana and Matabili it 

 is termed the Peechey. It stands about four feet six 

 inches high at the shoulder, and is a comparatively 

 stout-built species. The mane is erect, five inches in 

 depth, and more or less marked by alternating bands 

 of black and white. The muzzle is black ; the ears 

 and tail being thoroughly equine in character. The 

 head and upper parts of the body have a reddish-brown 

 ground colour, being beautifully streaked by irregularly 



r - 



Burchell's Zebra (Hippotigris Burchellii). 



sinuous, broad, black bands, which do not unite with 

 the longitudinal dorsal line ; the latter widens towards 

 the croup. The tail, legs, and under parts of the chest 

 and belly are quite white (fig. 68). The female is 

 similarly marked, and is furnished with four mammse. 

 Like its congeners, Burchell's zebra admits of being 



tamed-; but, under the most favourable circumstances, 

 it is considered unsafe, obstinate, and treacherous. 

 Eespecting its habits and appearance in the wild state, 

 none have so effectively written upon this subject as 

 Captain Harris : " Fierce, strong, fleet, and surpass- 

 ingly beautiful, there is perhaps no quadruped in crea- 



