NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



north of the Orange River from Zululand in the 

 east, across to South- West, and north to our Zoo- 

 logical boundary, the Zambesi. North of this river 

 it extends as far as the Egyptian Sudan. 



A few specimens were brought from the Trans- 

 vaal some years ago, and liberated on Mr. Struben's 

 farm " Tafelberg," in the Middelburg Division of 

 the Cape Province. They have since increased to a 

 troop of about thirty. Ten of these were captured 

 and disposed of, leaving a troop of twenty, which 

 are doing well and increasing steadily in number. 



Burchell's Zebras formerly existed in immense 

 numbers on the upland plains of South Africa in 

 troops of fifty to a hundred and more. This beauti- 

 ful animal, as well as the other inhabitants of the 

 Karoo and grass-veld, were subsequently slaughtered 

 in a wholesale way by the early travellers and 

 colonists. 



However, owing to Government restrictions, and 

 the establishment of Game Reserves, this Zebra has 

 been saved from the fate of its relative the Quagga. 



Burchell's Zebras are very sociable, and when 

 unmolested they congregate in great herds. In 

 East Africa it is a common sight to see a herd of 

 over a thousand Zebras grazing upon the plains, 

 and smaller troops dotted about in the distance, 

 sometimes as far as the eye aided by a tele- 

 scope can see. Dotted about here and there 

 amongst them are various species of antelopes 

 feeding peacefully. 



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