HORSES. 
5°7 
When Sir C. Harris visited the Cape Colony in the year 1839, he 
Distribution. .... , J . . 
described the quagga as existing m immense herds, but it is now, 
owing to incessant persecution for the sake of its hide, either completely or very 
nearly exterminated. According to Mr. H. A. Bryden, the quagga always had a 
very restricted distribution, and, although “ formerly so abundant upon the far- 
spreading ‘karroos’ of the Cape Colony and the plains of the Orange Free State, 
appears never to have been met with north of the Yaal River. Its actual habitat 
maybe precisely defined as within Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, and Griqua- 
THE QUAGGA. 
land West. I do not find that it ever extended to Namaqualand and the Kalahari 
Desert to the west, or beyond the Kei River, the ancient eastern limit of the Cape 
Colony to the east.” 
The name couagga is derived from the shrill bark-like neigh of 
Habits o 
the animal. In habits this species appears to have been very similar 
to the other members of this group; and it was formerly much sought after by the 
Boers in order to supply their native servants with food. It may be added that all 
the zebras, with the exception of E. grevyi, which has not hitherto been exhibited 
in this country, will interbreed with either the horse or the ass. Indeed, the 
skeletons of all the living Equidce are so alike that, except from size, it appears 
impossible to distinguish the teeth or limb-bones of the various species from one 
another. 
