Equid.e.- 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-Eql'id.e. 



179 



Captain Harris justly remarks, tlie period is not remote 

 ^^'llen confusion rode rampant on the question under 

 consideration ! " Disguised in a tail borrowed from 

 the rump of the domestic ass, the subject of the 

 annexed portrait (fig. 67) sat for its picture to M. 

 Buffon, and may be found in the voluminous works of 

 that eminent author, doing duty for a female zebra! 

 Even Baron Cuvier has fallen into the error of describ- 

 ing tlie Quagga to be the proprietor of an asinine tail — 

 a mistake which is the more surprising since it is stated 

 by the same author in his 'Regne Animal,' that 'among 

 the equipages occasionally exhibited in tlie gay season 

 in Hyde Park, and other fashionable places of resort, 

 may be seen a curricle dra\\Ti by two couaggas, which 

 Beem as subservient to the curb and whip as any well- 

 trained liorses.' " Tlie average height of the Quagga 

 is about four feet and four inches at the shoulder. In 

 its native haunts it is sociaWe and peaceable ; but if 

 roused by an enemy it exhibits great courage, and is 

 said to repel the attacks of large carnivora, on some 

 occasions at least, successfully. Its voice is not unlike 

 tlie bark of a dog. 



THE ZEBRA {Hi/'jiclir/n's Zrhra), or WiLDE P.VARD 

 of the Cape colonists — Plate 24, fig. 79 — occupies the 

 mountainous parts of Southern Africa. It is somewhat 

 less in ht'iglit tlian the Quagga; the mane being erect 

 and bushy, with alternating bands of black and white. 

 The entire body, liead, and limbs are striped with 



narrow black bands, tlie upper ones being united to 

 the central longitudmal sti'Cak on the back. Tlie 

 general gromid-colour of the hide is white. The hoofs 

 are narrow, and much hollowed out at the sole. Zebras 

 are very shy and gregarious in their habits, living in 

 troops sometimes numbering vipwards of a hundred 

 individuals. In a domesticated state numerous hybrids 

 have been produced by association witli the horse and 

 ass. The flesh of the zebra, though eatable, is coarse, 

 oil}', and unpalatable. According to the testimony of Mi'. 

 Andersson, the subdued neighirigs of the Zebra have a 

 very melancholy character when heard at a distance ; 

 and, on one occasion, this enterprising sportsman 

 mistook its moribund groanings for the gasping ejacu- 

 lations of a drowning man. The female is furnished 

 with two mamiiiic. 



BTTRCHELL'S ZEBBA (Hippoiigris DitrcheUii) is an 

 inhabitant of the plains of Southern Africa to the north 

 of Orange river. The Cape colonists call it Bonti 

 Quagga, and by the native Beehuana and Matabili it 

 is termed tlie Peechetj. It stands about fom- feet six 

 inches higli at the shoulder, and is a comparatively 

 stout-built species. Tlie mane is erect, five inches in 

 depth, and moi-e or less marked by alternatmg bands 

 of black and white. Tlie muzzle is black ; the ears 

 and tail being thoroughly equine in character. The 

 head and upper parts of the body have a reddish-brown 

 ground colour, being beautifully streaked by irregulai ly 



Fig. OS 





Burchfll's Zebra (Ilippotigris Burchellii). 



fiiiuous, broad, black bands, which do not imite with 

 the longitudinal dorsal line ; the latter widens towards 

 liie croup. The tail, legs, and under parts of the chest 

 and belly are quite white (fig. 68). The female is 

 similarly marked, and is furnished with four mammse. 

 Like its congeners, Burchell's zebra admits of being 



tamed ; but, imder the most favourable circumstances, 

 it is considered unsafe, obstinate, and treacherous. 

 Respecting its habits and appearance in the wild state, 

 none have so effectively written upon this subject as 

 Captain Harris :— " Fierce, strong, fleet, and surpass- 

 ingly beautiful, there is perhaps no quadruped m crea- 



