68 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
It is well known that Captain Lugard and Major von Wissmann 
have advocated steps being taken to breed Zebra hybrids. 
Captain Lugard, in his work on ‘ Our Kast African Empire,’ 
writes :—‘‘ Some years ago I advocated experiments on taming the 
Zebra, and I especially suggested that an attempt should be made 
to obtain Zebra mules by Horse or Donkey mares. Such mules 
I believe would be found excessively hardy and impervious to the 
‘fly’ and to climatic diseases. . . . . I would even go further 
and say that their export might prove one of the sources of 
wealth and revenue in the future; for, as every one knows, the 
paucity of mules both for mountain batteries and for transport 
purposes has long been one of the gravest difficulties in our other- 
wise almost perfect Indian Army Corps.” Since this was written 
much information has been gained as to the dreaded Tsetse fly, 
but apparently there is extremely little chance of Horses being 
made immune, being so treated by innoculation or otherwise that 
they will be able to survive if once infected by the peculiar minute 
organism so intimately associated with the all too fatal disease. 
Further, owing to the destruction of cattle by the rinderpest, 
the transport difficulties have been increased in Africa, while the 
Frontier wars have enormously increased the demand for mules in 
India. On the other hand, it has been proved that it is a com- 
paratively simple matter to cross various breeds of mares with a 
Burchell Zebra, and if experts are to be trusted the hybrids 
(Zebra-mules as some call them) promise to be as useful and 
hardy as they are shapely and attractive. The preliminary 
difficulties having been overcome, it remains for those in 
authority to take such steps as may be necessary to ascertain 
of what special use, if any, Zebra hybrids may be in the various 
parts of the Empire, but more especially in Africa and India. 
As I am anxious to obtain as much information as possible 
bearing on equine hybrids—on crosses between Zebras, Horses 
and Asses—and as to the fertility of the various kinds of 
hybrids (mules, hinnies, &c.), I shall be most grateful for 
accounts of any experiments hitherto made, more especially with 
Burchell and other kinds of Zebra. I have not yet heard of 
ordinary mares having been crossed with Burchell’s Zebra in 
South Africa; but doubtless some of the readers of ‘The 
Zoologist’ may be able to give me information on this subject. 
