42 MOSTLY MAMMALS 



breed of zebra-hybrids, whose capacity for work and powers 

 of endurance should be somewhat on a par with those of 

 the horse and the mule. 



Turning to the list of animals given by Dr. Trouessart 

 as suitable for domestication or acclimatisation, we find it 

 headed by the Patagonian cavy {Dolkhotis patagonicd) of 

 the open plains of South America ; a creature singularly 

 like a hare in general appearance, although its affinities 

 are with the guinea-pig. The mara, as this animal is 

 called by the natives, has already been introduced into 

 several English parks, notably those of the Duke of Bedford 

 and Sir Edmund Loder, where it appears to flourish well, 

 with a certain amount of protection. It does not burrow, 

 but merely makes a " form " among long grass, after the 

 manner of the hare. Its flesh is of excellent quality ; and 

 this, together with its interesting habits, is urged as the 

 chief reason for its introduction. It is not, however, a 

 rapid breeder, and to a considerable extent is diurnal in 

 jts habits and slow in its movements (except when tho- 

 roughly frightened) ; so that its chances of making its way 

 in European countries, where hares are year by year 

 diminishing in numbers, would appear to be but small. A 

 second species (D. salinicold) inhabits the salt-plains of 

 the Argentine, and it is accordingly urged that it would 

 be suitable for turning down in the so-called Chotts of 

 Algeria and Tunisia. But would the game be worth the 

 candle ? is the natural question. 



With regard to the domestication of the African elephant, 

 so much has been written elsewhere that I may be brief on 

 the present occasion. It is interesting to notice, however, 

 that the French missionaries of Fernan-Vaz, in the north 

 of French Congoland, have succeeded in taming a young 

 individual of this species, which appears to be the first of 



