138 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(172) BUECHELL'S ZEBEA. 



(EQUUS BUECHELLI— {Gray.) ) 



Description. — Height at the shoulder 4 feet ; robust and thick-set 

 in form ; mane and tail full ; the ground colour of the body above pale 

 yellowish; the limb and under parts nearly white; the stripes are brown- 

 ish black ; there are fainter and narrow stripes in the interspaces between 

 the broad stripes ; limbs without stripes ; individuals are said to vary in 

 this respect, some being striped almost down to the hoof; the greater 

 parts of the ears are white ; a ventral black stripe runs along the 

 median line, and to which the large side stripes unite by their lower 

 ends; there is also a dorsal stripe; the head and face are beautifully 

 marked by narrow black lines. The ground colour of the body has 

 been observed to vary in shade at different seasons of the year. 



Hab.— South Africa, extending northwards to Kilimanjaro district. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 An adult female has been living in the garden since May 1889. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — Both the wild ass and the zebra should have well- 

 drained, dry situations for their habitation. Their principal requisites 

 are — a sheltered shed, a sleeping room, and an enclosure as a grazing 

 ground. The floor of the shed and the sleeping room should be made 

 of bricks laid on edge, and joints cemented. Any partition or wall 

 necessary for the shed should be made of planks or bricks ; iron or wire 

 fencing with interspaces should, as much as possible, be avoided. 

 These animals are much given to frisking and kicking against anything, 

 and serious consequences may happen if the above precautions are 

 neglected. 



Food. — Crushed food, consisting of gram, oats, Indian-corn, and 

 bran ; bay, paddy-straw, and salt. During the wet weather the 

 grazing ground should be frequently mown if the growth of fresh grass 

 is luxuriant, as otherwise they may get colic from overfeeding on 

 green grass. 



Transport. — Boxes for the conveyance of these animals should be 

 narrow, perfectly plain inside, and provided with doors at both ends. 



Treatment in sickness. 



Both the wild ass and BurchelPs zebra suffered from rheumatism, 

 no doubt brought on by dampness of the floor of their habitation. The 

 zebra had frequent attacks until a platform about 18 inches high was 

 provided. From causes alluded to under homing, the wild asses suffer 

 sometimes from wounds and sores ; in themselves they may not be 

 serious, but as swarms of flies are about, the danger of their getting 

 fly-blown and breeding maggots should be guarded against. For surface 

 wounds nim oil is very good, but for deeper ones a dressing composed 

 of Stockholm tar, softsoap, sulphur and carbolic acid should be used. 



