THE HORSE. 97 



tendency among all breeds for similar markings 

 to make their appearance. If so, such stripes 

 would doubtless be of protective value in the 

 same way as are the bands upon the zebra. 

 In a succeeding chapter we shall see how re- 

 markably useful these may prove in saving 

 zebras from their enemies both by day and by 

 night. There seems a curious tendency among 

 the wild and half- wild horses of the Western 

 world to develop conspicuous and eccentric 

 colours. A remarkably large proportion of the 

 Indian ponies are "piebald," insomuch that one 

 ingenious correspondent suggested that in the 

 early days of Spanish rule the animals of a 

 travelling circus may have got loose and be- 

 come the ancestors of many of the mustangs ! 

 Now it seems at first sight rather remarkable 

 that the wild members of a species should be 

 more conspicuous than the tame ones which do 

 not need to resort to concealment. But, as a 

 matter of fact, — as will be seen when we come to 

 discuss the colour of the zebra, — conspicuousness 

 may be a decided advantage to animals living 

 after the manner of wild horses. It would be 

 interesting if we could ascertain whether the 

 peculiarities of colour observable among the 



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