Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9975
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    ‘The female Zebra’

    Date
    1751
    Creator
    George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
    Object type
    Library reference
    38029
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 286mm
    width (print): 220mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
    Description
    Zoological study of a female Zebra, [possibly the extinct sub-species Quagga, Equus quagga quagga] posed in a fenced landscape.

    Plate 223 from chapter 13 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 1 (London, for the author, 1758). The author describes the animal within the text: “This curious animal was brought alive, together with the male, from the Cap eof Good Hope...this feamel lived several years at a house of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at Kew...It seemed to be of a savage and fierce nature...I never saw a skin brought over agreeing with this, which makes it a much greater curiosity than the male. I suppose the skins of the females are not counted so beautiful as those of the males, for which reason they are not brought to us.”

    The plate is inscribed: “ZEBRA femina sive Assinus sylvestris Africanus. Drawn from the living Animal belonging to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. G. Edwards Del: Anno 1751.”
    Associated place
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