New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28


five toes TO each foot. and n very small brain.
The next in process OF evolution the hyra-
cotherium. This possessed but three toes. Then
came epihippus, a creature which began to lia.o
some resemblance to the horse we know him
at the present day. Next came Inesohippus, next
merychippus, next hipparion and then proto-
hippuS (the real ancestor Of The cqu!dI), and
lastly equuS.
In his second lecture Professor Ewart con-
fined his remarks almost entirely TO the stripes
of the zebra, dwelling on their origin and proba-
BILE uses. There could be little doubt that
the stripping Of the zebra was of great benefit to
the animal in enabling ii to avoid detection
He had tried many experiments his own
Zebras and he was astonished to find how diff
6cult it was to recognize them even when quite
close up to them. Even at n distance OF five
yards he had failed to distinguish the animals
under certain circumstances. At Ten yards the
stripes would completely disappear On one oc-
casion he actually ran into zebra, because not
only did the stripes prevent the animal from
being observed. but it stood so still, and breathcd
so quietly. that it completely elCdcd observation
AIRY animal which had a uniform color was
much more likely to be seen than one with
stripings or spots on its coat. He had made
some experiments with n bay pony, and ne
found that when he put on the animal an ar
rangcment of ribbons. to initiate the stripe OF
the zebra, it was much less easily distinguished
than in the ordinary natural condition the
subject Of protective coloration was a very large
one. and he could only touch on few Special
points. He once let loose some forty to hfy
tame rabbits in field where there we're u
short time the white ones had disappeared oW-
ing no doubt. to their tamenoss. and their con-
spicuous cooration. There were. OF course.
white wild rabbits in England. but nature as II
to COMPENSATE for their color. had endowed
them with special powers OF sell preservation
Many instances were on record in when huhl,
ers have been deceived by natural objects ana
have fired at these under the impression that
they were animals. The lecturer proceeded TO
discuss the question as to why horses nave ioSt
their stripes. At one time horses were banded,
rpsn cd %
was interesting TO know why horses had lost
them 1t was all question Of adaptation TO
surroundings, and as stripes became OF no use
to the horse they rapidly disappeared
Professor Ewart brought to n close his course
Of lectures on zebraS and zebra hybrids by
giving an account of the experiments that nave
been conducted both by himself and by others
on the breeding of zebra hybrids.
These hybrids were divided into two classes:
Cd Zebra-ass hyhrids and CD zebra horse ny
birds At Penycuick Professor Ewart had hla'e,'
various kinds of zebra with various horses ana
ponies and the crossings thus obtained threw
much light on the complicated questions OF re-
version variation. teegony. etc. The sire was
in all cases a zebra and the dam morse or a
nonv and the general rule was that the hybrid
had more of the characteristics or the 1ather
than of the mother In cases where zebra sire
was mated with Thoroughbred morse the OF
spring was a considerable improvement on the
father The markings on the zebra hybrlds OF
fered many points Of interest to the student OF
breeding and the pictures thrown on the screen
enabled Inc audience to see the character OF the
offspring and to note whether they took more
after one OF their parents than the other
Dealing with the possible use of Zebras ana
zebra hybrds from practical point or view.
Professor Ewart did not hold out much hope or
their proving Of much value to mankind. IL was
jmpossible 10 eradicate from the zebra nature
that fear of it's natural enemy the lion which
was so imbued in its system. Some or PROFESSOR
Evart's zebra, and zebra hybrid9 were ordi-
rarily OF the most jocile nature. but at times 4
sudden fear would overcome them, and they
would become quite unmanageable. No matter
whether the animal were in harness or not,
when this fit of fear seized ii 1t would leap over
a hedge or over a wall. and 1t would be some
time before il recovered It's equanimity. Pro
fessOr Ewart referred to the team OF Sebras
which the Hon. Walter ROthschild used to drive
and hich used occasionally to be seen about IN
London. The zebras were not. however. very
satisfactory in harness, and Mr.. ROthschild had
now given up all hope of accustoming them to
carriage work. The zebras were at the present
moment working farm in France. and
there might be n field for their use in this d.
roction. 1t was quite possible to ride zebras and
zebra hybrids. but must be prepared for
their sudden wild fits.