74 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



concealed from view, and without any other warning than that 

 of a fierce grunt, dash upon their pursuers, whose attention at 

 the moment may be occupied in tracing the blood spoor. It is not 

 alone a waste of ammunition, but also a very hazardous experiment, 

 to fire at a Buffalo standing or charging directly head on, as, 

 owing to the formation of the horns, the chance of a bullet reaching 

 the brain or inflicting an injury calculated to stop its rush is 

 almost hopeless ; nor is any opportunity afforded in such a posi- 

 tion of penetrating the vitals with a shot fired into the trunk 

 from over the head, as it charges with the nose thrust out straight 

 on a line with the back, and only lowers the horns at the moment 

 of striking. Where possible, a shoulder shot should always be tried, 

 a '577 express being preferably recommended to a rifle of smaller 

 calibre. The cavity of the bullet should be narrow and shallow, so 

 as not to allow of too much expansion. For a heavy and shoit- 

 legged animal, it can run with great rapidity, as anyone mounted oh 

 a slow horse would find out to his cost if pursued by one. 



The Zebra {Equus zebra). Fig. ^6,V\^X.e^.—{WildePaard 

 of the Dutch.) 



\^The true Zebra rarely exceeds 12%. hands at the withers, and in 

 comparison to BurckeWs Zebra the ears are long; head, hoofs, and 

 tail more asinine in shape; transverse stripes narrower and more 

 frequent, commencing close over root of tail, hut disappearing on 

 the upper sides of belly, which is white; all four legs ringed com- 

 pletely down as far as the hoofs; mane scanty and irregular, 

 commencing at the back of ears and disappearing before reaching 

 shoulder.^ 

 A FEW herds of the true Zebra still remain in some of the Eastern 

 districts of the Cape Colony, and especially on the Zwartberg, 

 Sneeuwberg, and Winterhoek ranges, upon the summits of which 

 only are they found, but as they are now very strictly preserved and 

 do not, therefore, form a portion of the wild game of South Africa, 

 an extended reference to the species is unnecessary. 



Burchell's Zebra {Eguus burchelh). Fig. 34> Plate X.— 

 {Qiiagga of the Dutch; Peetsee or Peetsee tolatsan of the 

 Bechuanas.) 



