2 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



Though not strictly gregarious, there are generally several in close 



neighbourhood. When feeding, a sentry is usually placed on some 



commanding outpost, who gives warning of approaching danger by a 

 sharp bark. The Coney has four or five young at a birth. 



FAMILY, SOLIDUNGULA. 

 Equidse. 



2. Equuscaballus. L. Syst. Nat. i., p. lOO.* The Horse. Heb. DID- 

 Arab, j^l-^i^", Hassan, ^-y, Faras, Mare. 



The Horses west of Jordan are generally inferior to those on the cast 

 side, where may be found some of the finest bred specimens of the true 

 Arab, with pedigrees going back several centuries. The Syrian Horse is 

 generally a small animal of fifteen hands high, without much speed, 

 but with great powers of endurance. Breeds of Horses were known 

 to the Jews, the Hebrew using distinct words for saddle and for chariot 

 Horses. Excepting in the plains, the Horse has never been much used 

 in Palestine. 



3. Asiims asiinis. (L. Syst. Nat. i., p. 100.) The Ass. Heb. "ll^n. 

 Arab, ^i^^, Hoviar. 



The most important beast of burden in the west and north. The Ass 

 is taller, stronger, and fleeter in Palestine than in any other country I 

 have visited. Much care is taken in the selecting both of sires and 

 dams, and in the northern plains may be seen large herds of she-asses 

 kept for breeding. The white Asses mentioned in Scripture are still 

 hio-hly prized, and command very high prices. A good Syrian Ass 

 fetches about ^^40, the price of a good Horse. The origin of the 

 Domestic Ass is from the African Wild Ass, the true Onager, a very 

 much finer animal than the Asiuus hainar (Smith) of Southern 

 Asia. 



4. Asimis onager. Pall. Act. Acad. S. Imp. Petrop. 1777, p. 258, 

 t. II. Wild Ass. Heb. Tliy. Arab, ^i^ ^U.=:., //ciwa?;' 7a?//j-///. 



This Wild Ass, the origin of the Domestic Ass, was formerly well 

 * The Edition of the Systona Natura quoted in this vokime is the eleventh, HohiiiK, 17(^6. 



