CHAPTER XV 



ZEBRAS AND ASSES 



Of four-footed beasts the Zebras may be reckoned among the 

 most beautiful, the remarkably striped bodies invariably attracting 

 attention and eliciting admiration. There are three distinct species 

 of these animals, known as Burchell's Zebra, Gravy's Zebra and the 

 so-called Common, or Mountain, Zebra, whilst a fourth animal that 

 may be mentioned before we reach the Asses is the Quagga, which 

 is a connecting link between the true Zebras and the Asses. 



Our illustrations depict the three species of Zebras mentioned, and 

 also Grant's Zebra (Fig. 219), but this latter is probably a variety of 

 Burchell's Zebra, most authorities agreeing that it is not specifically 

 distinct from the beast in question. 



In many ways the Asses resemble the Zebras, but the last-named 

 are to be at once distinguished by the heads and bodies being mostly 

 striped, whilst in the case of the Quagga we have an animal that is 

 only partially striped, and to this reference will be made later on. 



Whilst the Common, or Mountain, Zebra is the most typical 

 representative of this handsome family of beasts, to facilitate easy 

 reference, and to follow out the plan which has been more or less 

 adopted with most of the animals to which attention has been 

 directed in this work, the species may here be considered in alpha- 

 betical order. This brings us in the first instance to Burchell's 

 Zebra. 



BURCHELL'S ZEBRA.— This species (known to the Boers as the 

 Quagga, but being, of course, distinct from that animal as known 

 to Science) is shown in Fig. 218. It is often exhibited in Zoological 

 collections, and the ' photograph depicts two of these beasts at the 

 London Zoo. At the time of writing, a further addition of some 

 animals belonging to this species has been made to the Regent's 

 Park collection, and these were heralded by a certain London paper, 

 which shall be nameless, as beasts new to Science! It is true that 

 Burchell's Zebra has disappeared from many of its former strong- 



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