HORSES. 



5°7 



Distribution. 



When Sir C. Harris visited the Cape Colony in the year 1839, lie 

 described the quagga as existing in immense herds, but it is now, 

 owing to incessant persecution for the sake of its hide, either completely or very 

 nearly exterminated According to Mr. H. A. Bryden, the quagga always had a 

 wry restricted distribution, and, although " formerly so abundant upon the far- 

 spreading ' karroos ' of the Cape Colony and the plains of the Orange Free State, 

 appears never to have been met with north of the Vaal River. Its actual habitat 

 may be precisely defined as within Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, and Griqua- 





THE QUAGGA. 



Habits. 



land West. I do not find that it ever extended to Namaqualand and the Kalahari 

 Desert to the west, or beyond the Kei River, the ancient eastern limit of the Cape 

 Colony to the east." 



The name couagga is derived from the shrill bark-like neigh of 

 the animal. In habits this species appears to have been very similar 

 to the other members of this group ; and it was formerly much sought after by the 

 Boers in order to supply their native servants with food. It maj' be added that all 

 the zebras, with the exception of E. grevyi, which has not hitherto been exhibited 

 in this country, will interbreed with either the horse or the ass. Indeed, the 

 skeletons of all the living Equiclce are so alike that, except from size, it appears 

 impossible to distinguish the teeth or limb-bones of the various species from one 

 another. 



