THE SOMALI WILD ASS 

 Equus asinus somalious, Sclat. 



Somali name, Gumburi or Dameir dibbaded 



Description. — The Somali wild ass is a magnificent beast, 

 being very much larger than the Somali domestic donkey. 

 Light grey in colour, with white muzzle and a white ring round 

 the eye ; he is always fat and in the pink of condition. The 

 distinctive features about him are a short thick mane with black 

 grey-tipped hairs, boldly striped fore and hind legs, a brown or 

 black shoulder stripe (which is not constant), and a black brush 

 at the end of his tail. 



Measurements. — Owing to their being strictly preserved I 

 was unable to get their measurements. They stand about as 

 high as a good-sized Somali pony at the withers — 12-13 hands. 

 The measurements of a stretched skin in the British Museum are : 



Head and body . . . . . . 7 ft. 9 in. 



Tail I .. 6 



)) ^ )) 



„ with terminal hairs . . . . . 2 „ 2 „ 



Distribution. — As the Somali name implies, the wild ass 

 is always found on low-lying rocky hills (Gumburi). They are 

 common to the eastward of Berbera, behind Siyaro, in among 

 the sand dunes and rocky hills, and also south of Bulbar in 

 similar localities, especially around the Issituggan Valley. South 

 of the Golis Range they inhabit the low stony hills around Halo, 

 Haloka Yer, and near Segig ; they are also found on Negegr 

 Plateau. 



Habits. — Wild asses are usually seen in herds of four or five 

 individuals and not uncommonly singly, away from all other 

 game. They are sometimes seen near, or in company with, oryx^ 



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