Birds and Nature Vol. 10 No. 5 [December 1901] — John Shaqi
Birds and Nature Vol. 10 No. 5 [December 1901]Various
History
Birds and Nature Vol. 10 No. 5 [December 1901]
Various
Birds -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals
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.
ASPIRATION.
Oh, for a soul that fulfils
Music like that of a bird!
Thrilling with rapture the hills,
Heedless if any have heard.
Or, like the flower that blooms
Lone in the midst of the trees,
Filling the world with perfume,
Careless if anyone sees.
Or, like the wandering wind,
Over the meadow that swings,
Bringing wild sweets to mankind,
Knowing not that which it brings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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