280 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



shortness of the ears and the hair on the tail — is more nearly akin 

 to the Horse. 



The Quagga stands about four feet high, and whilst the head, 

 neck and front part of the body are all marked with stripes of a 

 chocolate-brown colour, the remaining parts of the body do not 

 bear the well-known stripes of the true Zebras. There is, it should 

 be mentioned, a dark stripe which runs along the back as far as the 

 upper part of the tail. The upper parts are light reddish-brown, 

 whilst the animal is white underneath. 



At one time this species was found in very large numbers in 

 South Africa south of the Vaal River, but its valuable hide and 

 flesh have proved a source of great attraction, and, in consequence, 

 the beast has become entirely extinct. Although some seventy years 

 or less ago the Quagga was found in large herds, it seems to have 

 kept to its own kith and kin and did not associate with the Zebras, 

 although it is recorded that it was not averse to making friends with 

 the Gnu, Ostrich and Domestic Ass. Man has taken advantage of 

 the Zebras and the Quagga and domesticated them as beasts of 

 burden and for other purposes, but many of these experiments have 

 not proved altogether satisfactory, the Asses being much more 

 amenable in this respect. It is said, however, that the Quagga, 

 although a fierce beast to encounter in its native wilds, becomes 

 docile in captivity, and evidence is forthcoming of a pair having 

 been driven through the streets of London. Man alone has not 

 been responsible for the snapping of this interesting link in the 

 chain of animal life, for its flesh was greatly relished by the King 

 of Wild Beasts, and the Lion has much to answer for in helping 

 to exterminate the immense herds which once roamed about on the 

 plains of South Africa, where, it is now reasonable to suppose, this 

 animal will never be seen again. 



ASIATIC WILD ASS.— The Kiang (Fig. 222) belongs to the 

 Asiatic Wild Asses, whilst the African Wild Ass (Fig. 223) belongs, 

 of course, to Africa. There are three varieties of Asiatic Wild 

 Asses, and of these the Kiang is a worthy representative. It is an 

 inhabitant of Tibet and Mongolia, and, as Fig. 222 displays, it is a 

 large beast and has a massive head which gives it a very distinct 

 appearance. In colour it is dark-reddish, with a narrow stripe along 

 the back. Then there is the Ghorkhar, or Onager, which is a 

 resident of Western India and Baluchistan. This is a smaller beast 

 than the Kiang; it is not nearly so dark-coloured as the last 



