j2oo Wild Life in Central Africa. 



ZEBRA (Common) (Equus burchelli). 



NATIVE NAMES. 



Chinyanja Mbizi. 



Chingoni - - - - - Lidua, sometimes Chimbeti. 



Approximate weight, $ 6oolb. 



Very common in most parts of Central Africa and only 

 one variety is found here, although there may be slight 

 differences seen, such as some of the animals being brown 

 coloured on the nose, instead of black ; and the striping of 

 some beasts is more distinct just above the hoofs, round 

 the fetlocks, than it is in others. 



These very slight variations mean little, I think, and 

 certainly do not contribute a difference great enough for 

 the classification of a variety. One might as well group 

 Englishmen, for instance, into groups, because some 

 happen to have black hair, others brown, and others flaxen 

 hair. A light skinned lion may give birth to two cubs, one 

 black maned and another light maned ; and such differences 

 mean little or nothing. 



Zebras are found in herds up to thirty or more animals, 

 and they are a charming ornament to a w r ild country, but a 

 great nuisance when hunting other game, for they make 

 a tremendous rattle and clatter in running away if dis- 

 turbed on hard, stony ground. This puts more valuable 

 game on the qui vive, so, like reedbuck, which whistle 

 loudly, they should not be frightened, and it is better to 

 make a detour to get round them. 



Quite recently I weighed a large old zebra mare I 

 shot, and, without the contents of the stomach and entrails, 

 it gave a weight of 525^3., so a large stallion alive would 

 certainly weigh quite 6oolb. 



A zebra skin, being very thick, is useless as a trophy for 



placing on the floor, although a good taxidermist could 



likely thin it down and tan it soft, when it would be pretty 



. and useful. The young have very pretty skins, and, being 



thin, they make pretty rugs. 



