62 DE. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE ZOOLOGY OF 



landscape, hut simply a great plain extending for some thirty miles and ending by 

 being lost in the outer hills of the Barkut and Siah-koh ranges. This was the great 

 historic plain of the Wild Ass. My guide took me to a slight elevation, and from it 

 pointed out to me where I was to look for the animals : for some time I could see 

 nothing ; at last, whilst using my glasses, I noticed clouds of dust, like the line of smoke 

 left in the track of steamers. This was what the guide wished to attract my attention to, 

 and what he wished me to look for ; these several lines of dust-cloud, were caused, by 

 herds of Asses, galloping in various directions over the great plain. One herd came well 

 within a mile's distance ; from its extent, I am even now of the opinion which I then held, 

 that the herd consisted of at least 1000 animals. I counted sixteen of these lines of 

 dust-cloud at one time on the horizon. My guide said that at this period of the year 

 tlie Wild Asses are always united in great herds on that plain, owing to the mothers 

 having their foals at foot, but that in a few weeks the great herds would break up, and 

 the animals would spread themselves all over the country in parties of ten to twelve. 

 This is the season at which the young are caught, by riding them down ; usually, the 

 mother will not leave, viciously attacking men and horses upon their coming near her 

 foal. It is a very rare circumstance to get a foal unless by shooting it. 



This splendid open country, covered with the most excellent fodder, chiefly fine 

 grasses, which occur as an earlier and later grass, a sufficiency of water, with great saline 

 plains in the vicinity, impressed one greatly as to its value for the purposes of horse- 

 breeding. 



We came across a piece of ground over which a herd of these animals had recently 

 passed, in all probability that morning ; the soil was soft, and. it had been covered with 

 a fine crop of grass ; over this the herd had left a track, as wide as an ordinary road, 

 which was seen to extend, like a road, for some distance. Between Karez-dasht 

 and Sher-baksh, to the south-cast of the Do Shakh range, we were informed was a 

 locality for the Wild Ass, also the country between Kushk-rud and Zagin, still further 

 south, but I did not hear of any having been seen by members of the Mission. 



No specimens of this animal were obtained. — J. E. T. A.] 



[Hystrix, sp. 



Blanford, turn. cit. p. 80. 



locally called Shogle ; by the Turkomans Kora-kosh and Sikh-aol. 



On two occasions the remains of a Porcupine were picked up, and once one was sent 

 to me by Captain Maitland, in the Badghis : frequently their quills were found at the 

 mouths of their burrows, but no specimens were secured. The natives say that they 

 are not uncommon ; their flesh is used medicinally, as well as being regularly eaten by a 

 class of people called Shavfi, who live near Teheran. — J. E. T. A.] 



[Stjs sceofa, L. ? 



Locally called Khuk, Khanzir. 



A Wild Hog was found to be very common, from the Hari-rud through the Badghis 



