AFRICA. 2S 
ihtefcourfe with each other than they have with 
the flocks of antdopes that inhabit thofe re- 
gions. 
Vofinaer, w^ho never travelled in Africa^ 
and who, confequently, could kiiow the quagga 
only from the accounts of others, pretends that 
it is a mixed breed, produced between the ze- 
bra and a wild horfe. 
Falfe ideas are, in my opinion, entertained 
in Europe refpe(Si:ing the numerous fuppofed 
mixed breeds of defert countries. It is believed 
that nothing there is more common ; but this 
is certainly a very great error. BufFon him- 
felf, convinced of their multiplication in Africa^ 
and endeavouring to explain the caufe, afcribes 
it to the heat of the climate ; which rendering 
fprings fcarce, and giving occafion fometimes 
to animals of different fpecies to aflemble 
around water at the flime time, favours fuch 
extraordinary copulations. 
By affertions like thefe, we may difttnguifh 
theories formed in the clofet, A naturalift 
who has travelled will be very cautious of 
hazarding them ; and experience will teach 
him how much the favage differs from the do- 
meftic animal in its appetite for procreationa 
D 2 The 
