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III. THE AFRICAN ASS. 

 Equus asiuus. 



/•!quus asinus, Linn., Stjst. Nat. vol. i. p. 100 (1706). 

 Asinus vulgaris, Gray, Zool. Joiirn. vol. i. p. 244 (1845). 



Hab. In a domesticated condition, the whole habitable world ; as a wild 

 animal, North-eastern Africa, sonth of the Tropic, from Upper Nnbia to Somaliland. 

 This is the only wild ass found within the tropics ; and it is interesting to note that 

 it is the only one which is completely grey at all seasons of the year. 



The typical form of the species appears to be the domesticated ass of North- 

 western Europe. 



Size (in the wild state) medium or large, the height at the shoulder ranging 

 from 3 ft. 9J in. to 4 ft. 1 in.* Ears very long. Hoofs small and narrow, with 

 no marked superiority in the size of the front pair. Tail-tnft moderate, and no 

 t race of a forelock. Dark dorsal stripe narrow, and in some cases discontinuous, 

 not reaching tail-tuft, and without white borders. Either a shoulder-stripe or 

 dark barrings on the legs, or both together (in domesticated race) ; uo dark ring 

 above the hoofs. A distinct white ring round the eye ; no white on buttocks or 

 rump. General colour of upper-parts (at all seasons) pure or tawny grey-fawn ; 

 mu^-zle, a ring round each eye, uuder-surface of lower jaw, inside of ear, under- 

 parts, and inner-siirface and much of lower portion of legs, pure white. Apparently 

 no marked (if any) difference, either in colour or length, between the summer 

 and the winter coat. Cry, a bray. 



A. THE NUBIAN WILD ASS. 

 Equus asinus africanus. 



PJqtius africanus, Fitzinger, Naturrjescldchte Siiugethiere, vol. iii. p. 666 (1857). 



Equus asinus africanus, ScLater, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1884. p. 542 ; Forbes, Sokotra and Abd-el- 



Kuri, p. 9, pi. ii. (I1I03). 

 Equus ttnnio/nts (iu part), Heuglin, Petermann's Mittheilungcn, 18G1. p. 19. 

 Equus asinus, de Wiuton, in Anderson's Mammals of Egypt, p. 329 (1902). 



(Plate XX.) 



Hab. North-eastern Africa, that is to say Seuaar and Nubia, ranging formerly 

 as far as the filth cataract of the Nile, and eastwards to the River Atbara and 

 the Danakil district,, but not extending into Abyssinia. Half-wild in Socotra. 

 Year by year the range of this race appears to become more and more restricted ; 

 and unless special measures be taken for its protection, there appears considerable 

 danger that this handsome animal may become exterminated. 



Characterised by its generally inferior size (ranging from about 3 ft. OJ in. to 

 3 ft. 11 J in.) as compared with the Somali race, the generally greyish fawn-colour, 

 the continuous, although very narrow dorsal stripe, the presence of a short shoulder- 

 stripe, and of a dark patch on each side of the front fetlock, and the jxbsence of 

 distinct dark barrings on tlie legs. 



* These mea^suiemeuls, like tliat of the kiang (p. .'iSlJ), are takeu from stuffed specimens ; the height 

 of a mounted specimen of the ghor-khar iu the British Museum agrees precisely with that taken by 

 Blanford in the flesh. 



