THE BIETH OF A ZEBRA HYBEID. 11. 



Equidfe, aud it is qaite possible there has not even been 

 interbreeding between the Burchell aud the other zebras. 

 On the other hand, there is always a chance that any- 

 given zebra has been inbred. Horses, on the other hand, 

 with a few possible exceptions, have been interbreeding 

 in all parts of the world ; and though sometimes inbred, 

 they are usually supposed to be far less fixed and stable 

 than the zebras. Consequently, on a priori grounds, I 

 expected the hybrid to resemble at least in colour a zebra 

 rather than a horse. I had no very decided opinion as to 

 the shape of the hybrid, but I did not believe what some 

 would-be prophets asserted, that the only result of my 

 experiments would be the production of a monster ; that 

 it was little short of sacrilege to cross a good mare with a 

 zebra. Whatever form or colour the hybrid may ulti- 

 mately assume, I have no hesitation in saying that it would 

 be difficult to imagine any more attractive, more graceful, 

 or more beautiful member of the equine family than the 

 little hybrid Romulus during the earlier months of his 

 existence. 



Never ungainly, Romulus when two months old looked 

 as complete and compact as a little horse, and at least twice 

 his age, notwithstanding his being a late foal aud the un- 

 toward weather that prevailed after his appearance on the 

 scene. This is probably partly due to his beginning to 

 feed on his own account at a very early period. When 

 three days old he was nibbling grass ; a few days later he 

 attacked hay, and ere long he insisted on having a share 

 of the oats provided for his dam. Foals frequently content 

 themselves with milk alone during the early weeks. 



In shape the hybrid unites the characters of both his 

 parents, and yet without approaching a mule differs from 

 both. When standing on the alert at a little distance, he 

 looks (Fig. 4) as if he had slipped down from a frieze on 

 the Parthenon. The muzzle is very fine, with nai-row, 

 almost slit-like nostrils of a distinctly zebra pattern. The 

 forehead is wide as in an Arab, and very slightly convex 

 from side to side. The jaws look narrow, and the head 



