Zebra
a popular name for any of the striped forms of the genus Equus; thus embracing the quagga, the true zebra, and Burchell's zebra. In all three the external characters are those of the ass rather than of the horse; the legs are without warts, the tail is furnished with long hairs only toward the extremity, the neck is full and arched, and the mane stiff and erect. All the species of this division are rapidly vanishing before advancing civilization, and in all Vol. X ZECHARIAH probability will become extinct before very many years. The true zebra is the E. zebra, from the mountainous regions of south Africa. It stands about 4½ feet at the shoulder; ground tint white, with black stripes, vertical on body and horizontal on legs; limbs slender, head light, ears long and open. The zebra lives in small herds in secluded spots; its sense of hearing, sight, and smell is CHAPMAN ZEBRA extremely acute, and on the least alarm the whole herd scampers off. When compelled to defend themselves zebras form a compact body with their heads in the center and their heels outward, and have been known to beat off the leopard with their kicks. The zebra has been domesticated, but its vicious temper renders it of little value as a beast of burden. Burchell's zebra (E. burchellii) differs little from the true zebra, except in the fact that the ground tint is yellow.