COMMON ZEBRA OR BONTE-QUAGGA 683 
disturbed only by the ravages of the lion. Most of the 
zebra’s existence is spent in eating, and most of the remain¬ 
der in sleeping or in drowsy rest. If undisturbed and un¬ 
alarmed the herds, after drinking, graze off toward their 
favorite feeding grounds, or, if the grass is poor in the inter¬ 
vening country, walk or canter toward them, strung out in 
Indian file. After eating their temporary fill of grass they 
rest for three or four hours, sometimes lying down, more 
often standing. Most often they may be found resting right 
in the open plain; but if a clump of thorn-trees is handy 
they may stand or lie in the slight shade of their thinly 
leaved branches. After resting the herd rises and slowly 
grazes back to the water-hole or river. They may drink 
only once a day, but they are thirsty animals and prefer 
to visit the water at least twice every twenty-four hours. 
We have seen them drink in the morning and afternoon 
and late evening; they also drink at night. Noon is their 
favorite hour for rest, but they are by no means regular, 
and they sometimes rest at night, although we believe that 
they generally spend the night feeding, and are then more 
alert than in the daytime. 
Night is the lion’s hunting season, and the sight or 
smell of him or even the suspicion of him at that time 
throws the animals he hunts into a frenzy of terror. 
Under the influence of these ever-recurring panics, the 
zebras stampede in a mad rush. This habit makes them 
obnoxious to the settlers, for they are powerful animals 
with thick skins, and in such a stampede they go right 
through any wire fence; while they are of no value to 
the settlers except for their hides, as their flesh is not 
good eating from the white man’s standpoint, although 
