THE QUAGGA. 



315 



be seen unless in the companionship of that fantastic animal, whose presence would seem to be almost 

 indispensable to its happiness. It is singular enough that the members of two families so perfectly 

 foreign to each other should display so great a predilection for each other's society, uniformly 

 intermixing as they do, and herding in bonds of the closest friendship. Fierce, strong, fleet and 

 surpassingly beautiful, there is, perhaps, no quadruped in the creation, not even excepting the 

 Mountain Zebra, more splendidly attired, or presenting a picture of more singularly attractive beauty, 

 than this free-born child of the desert." 



The QUAGGA, which is less attractively coloured, and inhabits a different tract of country is 



QUAGGA. 



also described by Sir Cornwallis Harris, as follows : "The geographical range of the Quagga does 

 not appear to extend to the northward of the river Yaal. The animal was formerly extremely 

 common within the colony; but, vanishing before the strides of civilisation, is now to be found 

 in very limited numbers, and on the borders only. Beyond, on those sultry plains which are 

 completely taken possession of by wild beasts, and may with strict propriety be termed the 

 domains of savage nature, it occurs in interminable herds ; and, although never intermixing with 

 its more elegant congeners, it is almost invariably to be found ranging with the White-tailed Gnu 

 and with the Ostrich, for the society of which bird especially it evinces the most singular pre- 

 dilection. Moving slowly across the profile of the ocean-like horizon, uttering a shrill, barking 

 neigh, of which its name forms a correct imitation, long files of Quaggas continually remind the 

 early traveller of a rival caravan on its march. . . Bands of many hundreds are thus frequently 

 seen during their migration from the dreary and desolate plains of some portion of the interior, 

 which has formed their secluded abode, seeking for those more luxuriant pastures where, during the 

 summer months, various herbs thrust forth their leaves and flowers to form a green carpet, spangled 

 with hues the most brilliant and diversified." 



