282 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



and covered with the seeds of the Goose-foot (Chenopodium album). 

 A covering of felt is laid on, and the seeds are pressed into the skin 

 by trampling or mechanical means, thus producing the peculiar 

 granular appearance of shagreen. It is dyed green with sal- 

 ammoniac and copper filings, red with cochineal, etc. Shagreen is 

 also made of the skins of Otters, Seals, Sharks, etc. It was formerly 

 much used for cases for spectacles, instruments, watches, etc.," and 

 who knows but that the covering of the very desk upon which these 

 notes were written did not at one time help to clothe one of these 

 Wild Asses of a foreign land ? 



AFRICAN WILD ASS. — Fig. 223 represents a specimen of the 

 African Wild Ass from Somaliland, and it will be at once seen, on 

 comparing it with the form of the Kiang, that there is a very con- 

 siderable difference between the two animals. The African Wild 

 Ass, for example, possesses much longer ears, a shorter mane and 

 a less profusely haired tail. There is, too, a noticeable divergence 

 in regard to the colour of the coat, for the present species has creamy 

 or bluish-grey hair, with dark bars on the limbs and a prominent 

 dark stripe on the shoulder. The lower part of the head, the throat 

 and underneath portions are white, and, as a rule, there is a good 

 deal of white upon the limbs. On occasions the leg stripes shown 

 in Fig. 223 are absent, whilst there are other variations exhibited 

 in different animals which need not be detailed. 



This Wild Ass attains a height of about four and a half feet or 

 more at the withers, and has a wide distribution in the desert regions 

 of the North-Eastern parts of Africa. More than one observer has 

 drawn attention to the remarkable colour protection afforded to this 

 beast, and amid the desert surroundings frequented it is essential 

 that the creature should be protected from enemies. Although, as 

 with its Asiatic cousin, food is often at a discount and at no time 

 plentiful, the African Wild Ass invariably seems to be in good 

 condition, and the Arabs consider its flesh very excellent eating. 



Mention has already been made in Chapter II. of various features 

 of interest concerning the relationship which exists between the 

 African Wild Ass and our various breeds of domestic beasts, for 

 there seems little doubt, as has been already pointed out, that the 

 Domestic Donkey is the tamed African Ass. 



I have already drawn attention to certain traits in the character 



