EXTINCTION OF THE TRUE QUAGGA. 395 



mentioned animals. In this species, as I have 

 before pointed out, the body colour is silvery white, 

 the stripings are black, and extend all over the 

 body and legs, while the ears and tail are far more 

 asinine. It may further be noted that, amongst 

 the zebras called Burchell's, a variety exists — known 

 as Chapman's variety — in which the legs are striped 

 as completely as in the true or mountain zebra 

 {Eqmis zebra). This variety is comparatively scarce, 

 but not so scarce, Mr. Selous tells me, as is generally 

 imagined. In equatorial Africa, indeed, it would 

 seem to be fairly common. 



It is, I think, unquestionable that, so far as mere 

 beauty is concerned, Burchell's zebra (the zebra of 

 the plains), the commonest of the group, carries away 

 the palm. The type is more equine, the ears are 

 smaller, and the tail more bushy than in the true 

 zebra ; while the colouring is, to the average eye, 

 richer and more attractive. Thus much I am free 

 to admit. On the other hand, I am bound to say 

 of the true zebra that, viewed as I have viewed it in 

 Cape Colony, revelling in the wildest, most rugged, 

 and remotest portions of its own-loved mountain 

 habitat, there are few prouder and more beautiful 

 objects in animate nature. 



Burchell's zebra, of which there are always some 

 good specimens to be seen at the gardens of the 

 Zoological Society, though for the last hundred years 

 not found south of the Orange River, has a widely 

 extended range over all Africa, from the Orange 

 River to far north of the equator. The true zebra 

 would seem to be confined mainly to the extreme 

 north and south of the continent ; its peculiar and 

 most favoured habitats being the Cape Colony, and 



