258 MOSTLY MAMMALS 
over with herds of Burchell’s zebra, the aforesaid bonte 
quagga, which, inclusive of its local races, has a very 
extensive geographical distribution in East and Central 
Africa. It is scarcely necessary to say that this species 
differed from the quagga in having the whole or the 
greater part of the body striped, as well as by the more 
brilliant coloration and the pattern of the striping. One 
very remarkable feature in connection with this species 
must not be passed over without notice. In the original 
and typical race (now nearly extinct), which was obtained 
just north of the Vaal River, in British Bechuanaland, 
and therefore immediately adjacent to the northern limits 
of the quagga, the whole of the legs, as well as a 
considerable portion of the hindquarters, are devoid of 
stripes. In this respect the typical form of the Transvaal 
species comes much nearer to the last-mentioned animal 
than do the races from more northern districts, in which 
the hindquarters and legs are more or less completely 
striped; the striping attaining its fullest development in 
the most northern race of all, the so-called Grant’s zebra 
of Somaliland and Abyssinia. 
Of course, these gradations towards the quagga type of 
coloration of the more southern representatives of Burchell’s 
zebra, as well as the differences in the coloration of the 
quagga itself as compared with zebras, have a meaning 
and a reason, if only they could be discovered. And it 
may be remarked incidentally in this place that unless we 
attempt to account rationally for such variations, there is 
little justification for the modern practice of distinguishing 
between the local races of variable species. 
The striping of the zebras, which there is considerable 
cause for regarding as the primitive type of coloration of 
the horse family in general, is evidently of a protective nature. 
