The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-25

same thing on his estate in Brazil, where
he succeeded at last in crossing Bur-
cheIrs zebra with mare OF Brazilian
stock, but we may PROBABLY assume that
it is derived from the horses originally
introduced into America by the Span
iards. and 50 resembles the .'broncho''
stock commonly found in Texas, and on
the Pacific slope. II would be q good
idea for similar experiments TO be made
by breeders Of horses in America and
elsewhere. Countries like California and
Australia. where the climate is peculiar
" suited TO horse-raising and where
many men Of capital and intelligence are
the owners Of stud-farns, would be ideal
places for trying the value OF zebruIes.
But they might be bred almost anywhere.
II says much for the hardy character
Of the zebra that Matopo himself stands
the climate OF Scotland so well. Consid-
e-ing that he was bred in a climate as
warm, say, as that Of southern Mexico.
and Is now living and keeping in capital
condition in one hardly less rigorous than
that Of northern Maine, the wonder Is
that he survives al all The Pentland
Hills are bleak and exposed, and parts
of the farm where the experiments are
being carried on lie no less than 100 feet
above sea level. Prof Elwarr allows his
young stock and most Of his brood mares
TO run out here all winter in a large
field, in. which, however, there are sheds
70 which they can resort for shelter dur
ing storms, and he is careful TO supply
them with abundant food His thorough
exposure, and have to be stabbed, the ze-
brules are hardy enough to run out all
winter Ike the PONIES
The first zebrule the Professor was sue
cessfuI in obtaining made his appearance
on the scene in the summer Of 1886, the
dam being a West Highland pony Of the
Isle Of Rum strain. The name given 70
this interesting little creature was Ro-
mulus. He was a perfect beauty. His
coat was p-Ofulsely marked with stripes
OF which curiously enough, he had more
even than his father. and the color Of his
body was q bright golden yellow, while
the stripes were a rich dark brown No
tiger could be more gayIy painted. and
he shone in the sun ike satin His owner
declares that he combined all the grace
and beauty Of an antelope with that Of
a welI-bred Arab foaL
There does not appear TO be any reason
why Romulus should not have an iudef-
nitely large number Of SUCCESSORS. In
1887 four zebrules were produced at Pen
icuik. and one Of these, whose dam was a
Shetland pony. is described as being in
beauty and in briIliancy Of -coloring al
most an exact replica OF RomuIus. As
Prof. Ewarl's principal object in the Pen
iucik experiments IS 10 see if an anthem
tic case Of telegony can be satisfactor-
.lr established. he makes no attempt to
obtain q second zebr1Ile from 4 mare
that has once produced colt by Matopo.
but breeds horse-coIts from her instead,
in order TO see if they will show any
signs Of zebra markings. But, if any
owner Of a stud-farm were so disposed
IL looks as If there need be hardly any
more difficulty about breeding zebrlIles
on large scale than is now experienced
in breeding mules. Il is uncertain at
present whether zebra sires will prove
70 be permanently necessary. This must
be the case if zebrules are doomed. like
mules, 10 steriIty. but If. on the con-
-rary, as is quite possible. they prove
to be fertile inter Sc. or even able 70
breed with either Of their original parent
stocks. an intermediate race between the.
zebra and the horse may, parhaps. be
established Fertile hybrids are already
known TO have been produced between
the zebra and the ass. These, however.
have none Of the beauty Of the zebruIe.
and are credited with even more than
he suDerf1u1us share of obstinscv Dos-
zessed BY the ass Apart from MS beauty
although that by itself may be considered
to possess a certain market value. there
ian be little doubt that the zebruIe
promises TO rival his cousin the mule in
powers Of endurance. 4 good judge Of
horses has described RomuIus as "a bon
ME colt with rare quality Of bone
and with the dainty step and dignity Of
p zebra" and il has been declared that
he would he Invaluable for riding ana
driving on account Of his hardness.
Hardness Of constitution and quality OF
bone are the Two chief factors IN the
value # the common mule: but the one
notorious drawback to his usefulness is .
his prOverbiaI ohetiaacy. Should the ze-
lrlla prove as seems likely n take al
Ter the horse in dcCility while equaIIinE
he mule il hardness. that alone would
suffice To constitute his raison d'etre
But II is IN Africa that the part L Be .
played before long by the zebrule Is ike
" 70 be Of the greatest Importance. Al .
most every traveller in South Africa has
la5 bitter experience Of the terrible /.
lorse-sicSueSs 50 mysteriousIy prevalent .
here No remedy for It has ever been
discovered. and nineteen out q twenty
f the animals attacked by ii die Mn
-ary operations are sadly hamperef by .
his disastrous form Of disease. and agrt- .
,IIture and commerce suffer no less ANY ?
rorsss. however. which have once had IL F
ind recovered become immune, or salt .
a." as the Afrika0ders call II, ana are
Yer afterwards proof against the just .
q dreaded sc0ur-e As The zebra. who .
= indigenous 20 thrsa regions. IS never f
known 20 be affected by the fatal dis .
ase. II is highly probable that zebrules f.
nay also be % a great extent immune +
2 this be 50, the most Paralyzi7g ~ The .
many difficulties that beset the path %, .
he African farmer VIII b. solved t7r
god. There may yet Re a great future .
sssore the painted mule. The Bad .
niEcon Magazine.
ATCHIsoN GLOBE SIGHTS.
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eff because ne uses i 81 much II lif-inE /
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