8z Great and Small Game of Africa 



I have never heard the cry of the true zebra, which is still found in 

 a few mountainous districts of the Cape Colony, but it is probably different 

 from that of Burchell's zebra, as the Boers never called it the " kwa-ha," but 

 the " wild horse." 



The beautifully striped form of Burchell's zebra found in the interior 

 of South Africa is a most handsome and symmetrical animal, standing often 

 upwards of 1 3 hands at the shoulder. The mares become much heavier 

 and more bulky than the stallions, and often grow excessively fat. When 

 in very high condition there is a deep hollow between their rounded 

 quarters, as may be seen sometimes in a horse, and I have otten seen the 

 fit an inch thick over the quarters of a Burchell's zebra mare, between 

 the skin and the flesh. 



The tat is of a rich dark yellow, and is considered a delicacy by all 

 Kafir and Hottentot hunters, by whom the meat of this animal is also 

 highly esteemed. Burchell's zebra meat, however, is not popular amongst 

 white hunters, and is said sometimes to cause vomiting in those not 

 accustomed to it. I have certainly found the fat too rich and nauseous 

 to be agreeable, but if steaks are cut from a young Burchell's zebra 

 without any of the animal's own fat and fried with bacon, I do not think 

 most people would find them bad eating, though the meat is perhaps a 

 little sweetish in taste. Burchell's zebras commence to foal in August, 

 like the sable and roan antelope, though most of the foals are born in 

 September. They are very easily caught when young, and soon become 

 quite tame. When very young, if one gallops in between a foal and its 

 mother, it will sometimes follow one's horse right back to camp. These 

 zebras run with considerable speed and endurance, but are not so fast as the 

 large antelopes living in the same country with them, and I have otten 

 galloped right through a herd of them. This species is fond of feeding in 

 company with other animals, such as buffaloes, blue wildebeests, elands, 

 gemsbucks, roan and tsessebe antelopes. They are not naturally very wary, 



