ZEBRA. 
353 
a white and dusky brown. The neck has broad 
stripes of the same dark brown running round it* 
leaving narrow white stripes between. The body 
is striped also across the back with broad bands* 
leaving narrower spaces of white between them* 
and ending in points at the sides of the belly, which 
is white, except a black line pectinated on each 
side, reaching from between the fore legs, along 
the middle of the belly, two thirds of its length. 
There is a line of separation between the trunk of 
the body, and the hinder quarters, on each side ; 
behind which, on the rump, is a plat of narrow 
stripes, joined together, by a stripe down the mid- 
dle, to the end of the tail. The colours are diffe- 
rent in the female ; and in none the stripes seem 
entirely to agree jn form, but in all they are equal- 
ly distinct ; the liair equally smooth and fine ; the 
white shining and unmixed ; and the black, or 
brown, thick and lustrous. 
Such is the beauty of this creature, that it seems 
by nature fitted to satisfy the pride and the plea- 
sure of man : and formed to be taken into his ser- 
vice. Hitherto, however, it appears to have dis- 
dained servitude, and neither force nor kindness 
have been able in any considerable instance to wean 
it from its native independence and ferocity. But 
this wildness might, perhaps, in time, be sur- 
mounted ; and, it is probable, the horse and the 
ass, when first taken from the forest, were equally 
obstinate, fierce, and unmanageable. M. Buffon 
informs us, that the zebra, from which he took 
his description, could never be entirely mastered* 
notwithstanding all the efforts which were tried to 
tame it. They continued, indeed, to mount it, 
but then with such precautions as evidently show- 
ed its fierceness, for two men were obliged to hold 
the reins while the third ventured upon its back ; 
and even then it attempted to kick whenever it 
FOE, II, % Z 
