ANIMALS. 511 



It is cliiefly a native of the southern parts of Africa ; and 

 there are whole herds of them often seen feeding in those exten- 

 sive plains that lie towards the Cape of Good Hope, However, 

 their watchfulness is such, that they will suifer nothing to come near 



conformation. The cry of this auimal bears a strong resemblance to the 

 barking of a dog, and is particularly sharp in the rutting season. He is very 

 easily tamed, and rendered obedient to domestic purposes. Of late years 

 they have freqently been seen in pairs, running in the curricles of the haict-ton 

 in London ; often forming part of the parade of Hyde Park, and other fashion- 

 able places of resort. They seem as obedient to the reins and whip as horses. 



It is a matter of surprise, that this animal has not long before now been do. 

 mesticated by man, because his constitution is fitted for the hottest climate ; no 

 that he would be extremely valuable in those burning regions where the heat 

 destroys the capabilities of the horse. In a wild state the quagga is possesed 

 of great natural courage; for, according to the report of travellers, he effectual, 

 ly repels the attacks of wolves and hyaenas, with which his native country 

 abounds. The natural pliability of his disposition, his great activity and physical 

 strength, peculiarly fit him tor the service of man; and when these become 

 more generally kni)wn, t have no doubt he «ill be added to our domestic ani- 

 mals. The name of this animal in his native country, expresses the sound of 

 his voice. The late Earl of Morton succeeded in engendering mules between a 

 male quagga and a mare. They were not, however, handsome animals. Some 

 time after this quagga died, tlie mare which had propngated with him 

 produced a foal, three seasons after having the mule, which had the indistinct 

 markings of the quagga, although she had not been with that animal from 

 the time she had the hybrid foal to liini. 



The zebra of the plains was first ascertained by Mr Burchell to be different 

 from the common or mountain zebra. The following is Mr Gray's specific 

 description of the zehra of the plains : — " Body white ; head with numerous 

 narrow brown stripes, which gradually unite together and form a bay nose, 

 the neck and body with alternate broad stripes of black and narrow ones of 

 brown, the latter of which nearly fill up the interstices between the black 

 stripes, and only leave a narrow whitish margin. The dorsal line is narrow, 

 and becomes gradually broader in the hinder part, distinctly margined with 

 white on each side. The belly, legs, and all, quite white ; the mane alter 

 nately banded with black and white." 



This beautiful animal differs materially from the common zebra ; the ground 

 colour of his body being entirely white, interrupted by a regular series of 

 black stripes commencing on the ridge of the back, and terminating at the 

 bottom of his sides : betwixt these are narrower and fainter ones of a brown- 

 ish colour. On the shoulders and over the haunches, these stripes assume 

 somewhat of a bifurcated appearance, between the divisions of which there 

 are a few transverse lines of the same colour ; but these suddenly and abrupt- 

 ly disappear, and are not lyntinued on the legs, as in the common zebra, be. 

 iiig perfectly white. Along the spinal ridge there is a narrow longitudinal 

 line bordered on each side with white. The mane is long, stiff, and erert, with 

 »be transverse bands of the neck broadly continued through it, and distinct- 

 ly tipped with deep black. The lines of the face are narrow, and perfectly 

 jcgulur ; from the centre of the forehead they radiate down wards over cacU 



