42 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



African Giraffe, a handsomer animal than the northern species, 

 from which it has only recently been recognised as distinct. 



Tiie regret at the loss — actual or threatened — of these fine 

 beasts, though real enough to the naturalist, is mainly senti- 

 mental ; but there remains one species whose strength, speed, 

 and proved docility only render its total extermination at the 

 hands of the Boer hunters a matter for deeper concern. 



I refer to the handsome true Quagga of the Cape Colony and 

 Orange Free State — Equus quagga of modern zoologists, quacha 

 of the Hottentots, idube of the IvHffiis — formerly found in 

 enormous herds on the plains south of the Vaal River, but now, 

 in spite of all assertions to the contrary, utterly exterminated. 

 In general proportions, and in the mane, tail, and hoofs, it was 

 semi-equine ; body-colour rufous-brown, changing to fulvous 

 posteriorly, and fading into white on legs, tail, and abdomen. 

 The head was striped in Zebra fashion ; the neck was handsomely 

 banded alternately with dark brown and white, these stripes 

 fading on the withers, and becoming rapidly fainter posteriorly, 

 the darker markings persisting on the haunches as vague lines and 

 spots. The iris (judging from a plate which I have seen drawn 

 from life by Waterhouse Hawkins, and depicting the pair of 

 Quaggas formerly living in the Knowsley menageiie) was orange- 

 brown. The mane was erect and thick ; the tail reached to the 

 hocks. Quagga foals resembled their elders in colouring, though, 

 judging from Sparrman's remarks, these colours were probably 

 brighter in the youngsters. Like little Zebras, young Quaggas 

 had tlieir coat rough and long. 



The curious former association of the Quagga with Ostriches 

 and Wiiite-tailed Gnus (exactly paralleled by the mixed herds of 

 Burchell Zebra and Biindled Gnu) was long ago observed and 

 commented upon by Harris. We also know that the Quagga, 

 though fleet, could be overtaken by a well-mounted rider ; that 

 wounded animals at baj' would kick savagely and bite severely ; 

 that the flesh was oily and disgusting to Europeans, though 

 relished by the natives ; and that the northern limit of the range 

 of this species was the Vaal River. Beyond these scanty details, 

 however, but little seems to have been recorded of the wild 

 Quagga, and a few particulars of the animal in captivity complete 

 all that will ever be known of this vanished equine. 



