458 NATURAL HISTORY OF AFRICA. 
orycteropuSy which is characterized by its grinders 
and claws. There is but one species of the genus 
named O. capensis^ which occurs at the Cape of 
Good Hope. 
Order 4. Solidungula. 
Africa is richer in animals of the horse tribe 
than any other quarter of the globe. In its 
southern extremity there are two species, the 
zebra and quagga^ both distinguished by the 
beautiful marking of their skin ; and Northern 
Africa affords the common horse^ and also the 
wild ass. 
Order 5. Bisulca. 
Of all the domesticated animals, not originally 
natives of Africa, the dromedary is the most im- 
portant and useful to the natives. It is their 
principal beast of burden, and is by them empha- 
tically named the ship of the deserL If the dro- 
medary did not possess an astonishing degree of 
temperance, — if it had not the power of support- 
ing thirst for a great length of time, — and of tra- 
versing with rapidity immense distances, over de- 
serts covered with a deep and burning sand, vast 
tracts, both of Africa and Asia, would be unin^ 
habited and waste. 
The most remarkable of all the bisulcated, or 
hoofed animals of Africa, is the giraffe^ or came- 
