THE ZEBRA OF THE PLAINS. j 



THE ZEBRA OF THE PLAINS, 



IN THE MENAGERY, ROYAL MEWS, LONDON. 



There are few animals which are exhibited in the menageries of this country which possess stronger 

 claims to beauty than the Zebra ; but, on the other hand, it is perhaps, of all animals, considering the 

 species to which it belongs, the most wild and untameable. The horse, the ass, and the zebra form 

 a well-known group, and are distinguished from all other quadrupeds by the form of their hoof, 

 ■which is single and undivided, rounded in front, of considerable thickness, and enveloping the extre- 

 mity of their only apparent toe. The zebra, in shape, rather resembles the mule than the horse or the 

 ass. It is rather less than the former, and yet larger than the latter. Its ears are not so long as those 

 of the ass, and yet not so small as those in the horse kind. Like the ass, its head is large, its back 

 straight, its legs finely placed, and its tail tufted at the end ; like the horse, its skin is smooth and 

 close, and its hind quarters round and fleshy. The greatest beauty, however, of this animal lies in 

 the amazing regularity and elegance of its colours. 



The ground colour of the whole body of the zebra is white, interrupted by a regular series of broad 

 black stripes, extending from the back across the sides, with narrower and fainter ones intervening 

 between each. The ears are variegated with a white and dusky brown ; the neck has broad stripes of 

 the same dark brown running round it, leaving narrow white stripes between ; along the back there is 

 a narrow longitudinal line, bordered on each side with white: a line of separation also runs between the 

 trunk of the body and the hinder quarters on each side, between which, on the rump, is a plat of 

 narrow stripes, joined together by a stripe down the middle to the end of the tail. The colours are 

 not so lustrous in the female, and in none do the stripes seem entirely to agree in form, but in all they 

 are equally distinct. 



The scorching plains of Africa are the natural domicile of the zebra, but of its habits in a state of 

 nature our information is veiy limited. It is also found in the kingdom of Angola, and, according 

 to Lopez, it is also a native of Barbary. The natives of Angola have, however, no other idea of 

 advantage from horses than as far as regards their excellence for food ; it is not, therefore, the fine 

 stature of the Arabian courser, nor the delicate and elegant colourings of the zebra, that have any 

 allurements to a race of people who only consider the quantity of flesh, and not the conformation of the 

 animal. The delicacy of the zebra's shape, or the painted elegance of its form, are no more regarded 

 by such people, than by the lion, which makes it his prey. For this reason, the zebra may 

 hitherto have continued wild, because it is the native of a country where there have been no successive 

 efforts made to reclaim it. All pursuits that have been hitherto made against it, have been rather 

 against its life than its liberty ; the animal has thus been long accustomed to shun man, as its 

 most inveterate enemy, and our surprise therefore need not be excited that it refuses to yield obedience 

 where it has seldom experienced mercy. 



It is, however, by no means improbable that some means may be ultimately discovered of 

 taming the zebra, and rendering it serviceable to man, for which its strength and swiftness so pecu- 

 liarly fit it. The Portuguese pretend, indeed, that they have been able to tame them ; and Dapper 

 informs us that four zebras were sent from Africa purposely to draw the coach of the King of 

 Portugal, and that the experiment was attended with complete success. When, however, we take into 

 our consideration that, during the time when the Dutch held possession of the Cape of Good Hope, 

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