Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/901

* ZEBRA. 763 ZECHAKIAH. accompanying the article Kquid.-e. Orifiinally abinulant iu Cape Culony, all that remain of this species are a few carefully protected banda on certain monntaiiis. The zcl)ra now most often seen in South Africa, and common in niemif^eries, is HurchcU's, which the liocrs call ■(iuaf,'f,'a.' It is from two to four inches taller than the tru(' zelira, has shorter ears, a longer mane, and a more liairy tail. Us ground-color is yellowish, its black stripes are ditlereiitly arranged (see Colored Plate accom- panying article House) and are al)sent frutn tlic lower legs, and there is no stripe along the spine. It is an inhabitant of the plains, where it gathers in small herds. Never known south of the Orange River, it has now become extinct in the Transvaal, but throughout all the plains-country north and west of that colony is still to be found in lai'ge numbers, it has often been semi-do- mesticated, but never has been made generally useful ; and a domestic race of zebras seems im- practicable. Many hybrids have been produced between this zebra and both the horse and the ass; but the results are not encouraging. For the interesting phenomena of Ewart's experi- ments with these hybrids see Hybuidity; Tele- CONY'. The third species, Grevy's zebra, inhabits the hilly regions from the Victoria Xynnza north and east to Central Somaliland. It is taller and slimmer than the true zebra, and like it is striped down to the hoofs ; but in other respects it more re- sembles Burchell's. It is distinguished from both, however, by the much greater number of stripes, which are very narrow, deep black, and separated by narrow white streaks; the pattern of striping is its. own, also, the transverse black GnEVY S ZEBHA. lines reaching much farther across the sides, and the oblique stripes on the haunches being short. These zebras prefer hill-forests and are known in their region as 'mountain' zebras in distinction from the plains-roving Burchell's. Several va- rieties have been described and named, as Chap- man's, Grant's, Selous's, etc., but all seem refer- able to this single species, which was probably the one called by the ancients hippotigris. The liabits of all zebras are much the same as those of wild asses or of wild horses; and it is be- lieved that Or<;'>''s zebra comes nearest of all existing EquidiC to some of the more recent ex- tinct horses, as Hipparion. It is. indeed, very diflicult to distinguish one of these so-called 'species' from another, or from the 'horses,' ex- cept by the variable and transitory external char- acters. Their flesh is most excellent food, and Vol. XX.^9. their hides have value for leather, as well as for making rugs and ornamental articles, and zebra- Imnling is an attractive sport. Consequently the race is rapidly decreasing. ZEBRA CATERPILLAR. The larva of a, noctuid ninth (Mdiiiiwlra pir.ta), named in refer- ence to the colors of the black and yellow striped larva which feeds upon the leaves ol many garden fruit-bushes, vegetables, and flowers. The moths issue in May and de- posit the eggs for the summer generation. The caterpillars from these eggs mature early in June, and a second generation of moths ajipears in August, the offspring of which are frequently so numerous as to cause con- siderable damage to autnnuial crops. They hi- bernate as pupa". When young the caterpillars feed in companies, but when older separate. They are readily destroyed when young by pyrethrum powdei*. and later by an arsenical spray. ZEBRA PARRAKEET. See r.'iRR.KEET. ZEBRA S"WAXLO"WTAIL. A common North American papilionid butterfly, Iphiclides ajax. Sec Swallowtail. ZEBRA-WOLF. The thylacine. See Das- YTRE. zebu', za-boo'. One of the Philippine Islands. See Cebu. ZEBU. See Humped Cttle. ZEB'ULXTN, or ZEBULON (Heb. Zchnrrin). The tenth son of Jacob and the sixth of Leah (Gen. x.x. 19-20; xxxv. 23). The allotment of the tribe of Zebulun was in the northern part of Palestine (Josh. xix. 10-16), and appears to have reached to the seaeoast (Gen. xlix. IS). The tribe, owing to its remote situation, played a minor part in history; its most notable recorded achievement was the support which it furnished to Deborah (q.v.) in the rising against Sisera (Judges iv. 6; v. 14-18). When Tiglath-pileser carried off the northern tribes (II. Kings .xv. 29), Zebulun was probably included (cf. Is. ix. 1). The territory of Zebulun was the scene of a part of the early ministry of Jesus (Matt. iv. 13). ZECHAEIAH. z.-.ka-ri'a (Heb. Zekaiyah, or Zclcaryuhu, Yahweh remembers). A frequent Old Testament name. The most notable of those bearing it are: (1) Zeciiariaii, the son of Jehoiada. He was high priest in the first part of the reign of .Joash (q.v.). King of Israel. The Chronicler represents Joash as straying from the true religion upon- the death of his mentor .Jehoiada; Zeehariah rebukes the apostasy, where- upon he is stoned to death in the temple. The Talmud has traditions upon the subject. It has been supposed that Jesus referred to this mar- tyr in Matt, xxiii. 35, Luke xi. .51, but these pass- ages clearly refer to another Zeehariah. son of Berechiah, who was put to death in the manner indicated immediately before the siege of .Terusa- lem by the Romans. (2) Zechariah, King op lsB.EL. He was the son of Jeroboam II. (q.v.) and last of .Tehu's dynasty. After six months' reign be was assassinated by Shallum. who usurped the kingdom (II. Kings xv. 8-12). (3) Zectiari.mi THE Peophet. He was the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, .and one of the prophets who stimulated the rebuilding of the Temple after the return of the Jews from the Exile. He is mentioned