When passing through the zoological garden one summer afternoon, my
attention was called to the antics of the fun-loving, shy and graceful
Zebra which was delighting the children with his original performance.
There was no ringmaster to indicate the various evolutions, but Zebra
Joe was furnishing a sort of circus all by himself. He seemed to have
forgotten that he was a stranger in a strange land, and could he have
been transported to his own country in South Africa, I hardly imagine he
would have seemed gayer or more free.
The Zebra is of all things a freedom-loving animal. He will go like the
wind and, if pursued singly, cannot be caught. It is true that large
herds are overtaken, as they impede each other’s progress, but it is a
shame that these beautiful creatures should be hunted at all. The
European will try to kill them with bullets, the natives with javelins,
but more frequently these dainty animals are caught in pitfalls and then
captured or slain according to the will of the pursuer.
They live gregariously and are found in groups of from ten to twenty,
though there are accounts of large herds. Probably these were migrating.
When running, they usually go in single file, the stallions leading.
They are not very fastidious in regard to their food, but if the supply
fails in one place they seek another locality. The Zebra defends itself
from other animals by biting and kicking, and the lion is about the only
foe which can overcome it.
Of the three species, the mountain Zebra or true Zebra lives farthest
south. It ranges over the mountainous country of Cape Colony. It is the
smallest of the three varieties, and is distinguished from the others,
not only by the peculiar markings, but by the large ears, short mane and
scantily haired tail. It is the only variety where the transverse
markings of the legs extend to the hoofs.
It is a very curious fact that the different species of Zebra are never
found together. Perhaps they fear each other, but they do not fear other
animals, for all agree that in the herds of quagga (which is grouped
with the Zebra) are nearly always found spring-boks, gnus, ostriches and
also buffalos. Ostriches, especially, are the companions of this species
of wild horse, which takes advantage of the vigilance and sagacity of
these great birds. Some species of the Zebra follow the horses of
traveling parties and graze among them, seeming to have a certain
friendship for the one-hoofed domestic animals.
The Burchell’s Zebra is the largest and noblest appearing of the
species. It is a rover of the plains and does not seek the mountainous
districts where the true Zebra is found. It stands about four and
one-half feet in height at the shoulders. The general ground color of
the hair varies from white to yellowish brown and the stripes are brown
or black. The hoofs are more like those of a pony than the other
species. It is not found south of the Orange river and it is not known
how far north its range extends.
Our illustration shows an example of Chapman’s Zebra. This, in reality,
is a variety of Burchell’s Zebra and should not be considered apart from
it.
The third species is called Grévy’s Zebra. More slender than the true
Zebra, it is somewhat like it in its markings. “Colonel J. A. Grant, who
first met these Zebras in the mountains north of Victoria Nyanza, writes
that they were found in herds comprising from two to nine individuals.”
He says that “one of their number, probably the largest male, takes
general charge of the herd; and it was noticed that a large antelope
kept watch and gave the alarm on our appearance. They are rarely found
outside the forest, preferring it to the open plain, which is generally
bare of grass; or they frequent a country with clumps of dense
brushwood, or with outcrops of granite, around which they get abundant
food, and they were never seen far from running water or hills.”
“They showed much sympathy when a comrade was wounded, lingering with
the hurt one at the risk of their lives; they lingered with our laden
donkeys one day on the march.” These Zebras are sometimes found at an
elevation of two or three thousand feet.
There is a variety of opinion in regard to the possibility of taming the
Zebra. Undoubtedly many incompetent persons have made the attempt and
failed. It is claimed that others have succeeded. There is a record that
a couple of beautiful animals in England could be harnessed to a light
carriage and used like horses. On the other hand, there is told the
story of a rich settler in Cape Colony who had reared several Zebras. He
had perfect confidence in their docility and he thought one day that he
would have them harnessed to his carriage. This he did, taking the reins
himself. The details of the ride are lost to posterity, but in a very
short time the gentleman found himself in their stable together with the
remnants of his carriage. This so discouraged his friends and neighbors
that they unanimously declared the Zebra to be untamable and they made
no further attempt.
“All who have seen Zebras in their native haunts, speak of the beautiful
appearance presented by a drove, as they stand for a moment to gaze at
the hunter, and then wheel round to seek safety in flight. It has been
stated that, when standing on sandy ground in full moonlight, a Zebra
harmonizes so exactly with the color of its surroundings as to be quite
invisible at a short distance.”
John Ainslie.