The Popular Science Monthly, June, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900 — John Shaqi
The Popular Science Monthly, June, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900Various
Science
The Popular Science Monthly, June, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900
Various
Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals
Matopo, the zebra stallion from which Professor Ewart had up to last
midsummer bred eleven zebra-hybrids from mares of various breeds and
sizes, belongs to the widely distributed group of Burchell’s zebras.
Many subspecies or varieties are included in this group, which, as
regards the pattern of the stripes, passes--in certain varieties found
in Nyassaland--into the second species, the mountain zebra, once
common in South Africa. The third species is the Grévy’s zebra of Shoa
and Somaliland; it is probably this species which attracted so much
attention in the Roman amphitheaters during the third century of our
era. A pair of Somali zebras has recently been presented to the queen
by the Emperor Menelik, and is now lodged in the Zoological Gardens,
Regent’s Park. The species measures about fifteen hands high, is
profusely striped, and stands well apart from the other two groups. It
is important to note that, in Professor Ewart’s opinion, it is the most
primitive of all the existing striped horses.
There is no direct evidence that the ancestors of horses were striped.
Certain observers think that some of the scratches on the lifelike
etchings on bone, left us by our palæolithic cave-dwelling ancestors,
indicate such stripes, but little reliance can be placed on this. On
the other hand, there is much indirect evidence. Every one who has
an eye for a horse, and who has traveled in Norway, is sure to have
noticed the stripings, often quite conspicuous, on the dun-colored
Norwegian ponies. Colonel Poole assured Darwin that the Kattiawar
horses had frequently “stripes on the cheeks and sides of the nose.”
Breeders are well aware that foals are often born with stripes,
usually on the shoulders or legs, less frequently on the face. Such
stripes, as a rule, disappear as the colt grows up, but can often be
detected in later life for a short time after the coat has been shed;
they are sometimes only visible in certain lights, and then produce
somewhat the same impression as a watered silk. From the facts that
more or less striped horses are found all over the Old World; that in
Mexico and other parts of America the descendants of horses which were
introduced by the Spaniards and which afterward ran wild are frequently
dun-colored and show stripes; that foals are frequently striped; and
that mules not uncommonly have leg and shoulder stripes, the inference
is largely justified that the ancestors of all our horses were striped.
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