*74 
THE GREAT THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS 
erect and bushy, alternately banded with black and white, as are the 
ears. On the face are brown stripes terminating in a bay nose. 
Another oddity is the bare spot on each of the four legs just above the 
knee. The female zebra is similar but smaller. 
The true zebra inhabits the hilly districts of Southern Africa, and 
is remarkable for its beauty and fierce and untamable nature. It is by 
far the most conspicuous and most beautiful of the horse tribe. The 
stripes which distinguish it from the ordinary asses are remarkably 
like those of the tiger in their arrangement. Those on its legs are 
horizontal, while those of its body are for the most part vertical. 
The zebra resembles the horse in its symmetry of shape, but is 
much handsomer in appearance,—its white body being elegantly 
marked with narrow bands of black. It was called the tiger-ass, by 
the ancients. It is a shy, wary, and obstinate animal; but there seems 
no reason why it should not be domesticated and made useful. In 
its native regions it prefers the loneliest and wildest localities, where 
it grazes, along with its fellows, on the steep declivities; sentinels being 
posted on the most elevated rocks to give notice of the approach of 
an enemy. 
The signal is a loud, melancholy neigh, whereupon, with pricked 
ears and tails whisked to and fro, the whole herd gallops off to some 
remote spot. Strange to say, it permits the gnoo to occupy the same 
feeding-grounds, and troops of gnoos and zebras generally mingle in 
one immense herd. 
BurchelTs Zebra. —Another variety of this species is known as 
Burchell’s zebra. This animal is a little larger than the common 
species, standing about four feet six inches and with an extreme length 
of eight feet six inches. The body is round and supported on sturdy 
legs. The crest is arched and surmounted by a standing mane five 
inches high and blended black and white. In contrast with the pre¬ 
ceding species, the tail and ears are like those of a horse. The tail 
is thirty-five inches long, flowing and white. The muzzle is black and 
the coat short and glossy. In further contrast to the common zebra, 
the ground color of the coat is sienna or reddish brown, irregularly 
banded with black and deep brown transverse stripes forming various 
figures. The belly and legs are pure white. 
