4f,8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



shoulders, in the very slight indication of the dorsal line, and in the 

 numerous black markings on both front and hindlegs; " and further 

 on he describes it as " griseus ; lineadorsali fere obsoleta, humerorum 

 nulla ; juba longiore, caduca ; pedibus distincter et frequenter 

 nigro fasciatis." This description, though no doubt correct for some 

 specimens, does not apply to a female ass I shot near Berbera, as she 

 had a black stripe on each shoulder, though neither stripe was complete, 

 not extending to the dorsal line. The stripe on the off-side was more 

 conspicuous than the one on the near-side. The dorsal line extended 

 from the tail to half-way up the back. I got a good photograph of 

 the ass, which clearly shows the shoulder stripe, and I have also 

 preserved the skin. Wild asses are very difficult to get near. I had 

 to take my shot at nearly 300 yards, from the top of one low hill to 

 the top of another. The ass fell dead. Four others that were with it 

 ran a short distance and then stood looking at the" dead one. As I 

 did not want to shoot another, I walked up without concealment, and, 

 strange to say, the asses did not bolt till I was within 60 yards. 

 The wild ass is the size of a galloway ; the legs are white, barred with 

 black stripes, the whole way down to the hoof. It has a short hog 

 mane of black hair fringed with sandy hairs. The tuft to the tail is 

 black. I saw them among bare rugged sandstone hills about 20 miles 

 from the coast, and saw the tracks of an old and young one on the 

 plateau. The tame Somali ass has very distinct shoulder stripes and 

 dorsal line, and some of them have their legs barred with black 

 stripes exactly like the wild one. They are much smaller than the 

 wild ass. The flesh of the wild ass is like very good beefsteak. I 

 never tasted better meat. The Somalis do not eat the flesh. 



Phacochcerus sp. 



Is somewhat smaller than the Indian boar, but has much finer 

 tusks. The best boar's tusks I have measure as follows : The upper 

 tusks 12 inches long round the curve, of which 10 inches on the 

 outer curve and 9 inches on the inner curve project beyond the 

 gums. The measurement in a straight line from tip to base is 

 8 inches. The lower tusks are 9 J inches round the curve, of which 

 6 inches project beyond the gums. From tip to base in a straight line 

 measures 7 inches. It will be seen that the tushes curve very 



