466 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



separated; they extend not only over the body, but the 

 head, thighs and legs, and even over the ears and tail. 

 They follow so exactly the contours of the different parts, 

 enlarging more or less according to the development of the 

 muscles, and the roundness of the different forms, that 

 they exhibit the entire figure in the most advantageous 

 point of view. In the female these bands are alternately 

 black and white, in the male they are black and yellow, but 

 always of a lively and brilliant tint. They also rest upon a 

 ground of short, fine, and copious hairs, whose lustre con- 

 siderably augments the general beauty of the colours." 



The Zebra is an inhabitant of Africa, and appears to ex- 

 ist from Abyssinia to the Cape of Good Hope, but is found 

 most abundant in this great Peninsula. It appears to have 

 been known to the Romans under the name Hippo-tigris 

 but as Pliny makes no mention of it, it is not probable that 

 it was often seen by that nation. 



We are very little informed concerning the natural habits 

 of this species, a result arising from its wild and untame- 

 able character. Unlike the Couagga, it spurns the yoke of 

 servitude, and proves one of the most rebellious subjects 

 of the vain lord of the creation. Many attempts have been 

 made at the Cape, to discipline this animal, but to no 

 purpose. Sparmann relates an instance of a rich citizen, 

 who had brought up, and to a certain extent tamed some 

 zebras, with the view of appropriating them to the harness 

 or the saddle. He one day had them yoked to his chariot, 

 although they had been utterly unaccustomed, to anything 

 of the sort. But he had nearly well paid for his folly, for 

 the Zebras rushed back to their stalls, with such terrible 

 fury as to leave him, when he escaped with life, very little 

 inclination to repeat the experiment. 



Mr. Barrow, however, seems to think that the Zebra 

 might be tamed, notwithstanding its vicious and obstinate 

 character, if proper means were resorted to. More skill, 



