lely to climatic and other little causes. But the mustangs of
the northern prairies have among them an admixture of breeds, derived
from American runaways along the borders of the Mississippi, and others
escaped from travellers on the prairies; and there have latterly been
discovered mustangs of large size--evidently sprung from the
English-Arabian horse.

In the Falkland Islands the horse is also found in an untamed state.
These were introduced by the French in 1764; but have since become
perfectly wild. Strange to say, they are only found in the eastern part
of the island--although the pasture there is not more rich than in the
west, and there is no natural boundary between the two!

In Asia the horse runs wild in large herds--just as in America. The
range in which they are found in this state is chiefly on the great
plains, or steppes--stretching from the Himalaya Mountains to Siberia.
The Calmuck Tartars tame them; and possess vast droves, like the Gauchos
and Indians. They also eat their flesh; and among many tribes of
Tartars mare's milk is esteemed the most delicious of beverages.

After the true horse, the most beautiful species is the _Zebra_. Every
one knows the general appearance of this handsomely marked animal, which
appears as if Nature had painted his body for effect.

Of the zebra there are two distinct kinds--both of them natives of
Africa, and belonging to the southern half of that great continent.
They are easily distinguished from each other by the stripes. One of
them is literally striped to the very hoofs--the dark bands running
around the limbs in the form of rings. The stripes extend in the same
way over the neck and head, to the very snout or muzzle. This is the
true zebra, an animal that inhabits the mountainous regions of South
Africa, and which differs altogether from the _dauw_ or Burchell's
zebra, also found upon the great plains or karoos of the same region.
The latter has the stripes only over the body; while the head and legs
are very faintly streaked, or altogether of a plain brownish colour.
Attempts have been made at taming both of these kinds, and with some
success. They have been trained both to the saddle and draught; but,
even in the most tractable state to which they have been yet reduced,
they are considered as "treacherous, wicked, obstinate, and fickle."

Another species of horse found also in South America is the _Quagga_.
This is very much like the zebra in size