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Description

How the Zebra got it's stripes.

According to certain African folklore, in the beginning all the animals were sort of a pale tawny brown color. Their skin was very sensitive, and so in the day they hid in the jungle where there was shade. But they stood out against the jungle colors, and Lion and Cheetah and all the animals with sharp teeth could easily catch them.

Then one day, Zebra was standing at the edge of the jungle, where the shade was all stripey. And he got sunburned- but only in the places where there was no shade.

Lion and Cheetah came hunting, and Zebra stood very still. Lion looked around and said: "Cheetah, it is so strange- I smell Zebra- but I do not see Zebra!"

When they had left, Zebra hurried to tell all the other animals. The zebras all stood at the edge of the jungle, where the sun fell all in stripes, and soon they had coats that were striped, like the grass. Giraffe stood where the sun fell all in spots and blotches, and so grew a spotted coat. Wildebeest stood all in the sun, and became as dark as the shadows.

Lion and Cheetah came back, and Cheetah said "Lion, it is so strange, now I smell Giraffe and Wildebeest, but I do not see Giraffe and Wildebeest!" and Lion said "Yes, and I smell Zebra, but I do not see Zebra!"

Giraffe and Wildebeest stood silent, but Zebra, he laughed and laughed. And when Lion or Cheetah or any of the sharp toothed animals come to hunt, well, they are still confused, and Zebra still laughs.

Description

How the Zebra got it's stripes.

According to certain African folklore, in the beginning all the animals were sort of a pale tawny brown color. Their skin was very sensitive, and so in the day they hid in the jungle where there was shade. But they stood out against the jungle colors, and Lion and Cheetah and all the animals with sharp teeth could easily catch them.

Then one day, Zebra was standing at the edge of the jungle, where the shade was all stripey. And he got sunburned- but only in the places where there was no shade.

Lion and Cheetah came hunting, and Zebra stood very still. Lion looked around and said: "Cheetah, it is so strange- I smell Zebra- but I do not see Zebra!"

When they had left, Zebra hurried to tell all the other animals. The zebras all stood at the edge of the jungle, where the sun fell all in stripes, and soon they had coats that were striped, like the grass. Giraffe stood where the sun fell all in spots and blotches, and so grew a spotted coat. Wildebeest stood all in the sun, and became as dark as the shadows.

Lion and Cheetah came back, and Cheetah said "Lion, it is so strange, now I smell Giraffe and Wildebeest, but I do not see Giraffe and Wildebeest!" and Lion said "Yes, and I smell Zebra, but I do not see Zebra!"

Giraffe and Wildebeest stood silent, but Zebra, he laughed and laughed. And when Lion or Cheetah or any of the sharp toothed animals come to hunt, well, they are still confused, and Zebra still laughs.