242 



THE ONAGER 



The Asses aud Zebras differ from the Horse in the characters 

 mentioned under the description of Uquics cahallus. In addition 

 to these may be pointed out a feature to which attention lias 

 lieen directed by Mr. Tegetmeier.^ According to him the ])eriod 

 of gestation in the Horse is only eleven months ; in the others 

 more than twelve 



(Opinions as to the number of species of Asses differ. On 

 the most liberal estimate there are three Asiatic and two African 



Fia. 125. — Asiatic Wild Ass. Equus onager, x ^\j 



species. The best known (if the Asiatic Wild Asses is the Onager, 

 E. onager. It is of a uniform yellowish, " desert " colour, with 

 a dark stripe along the middle of the back, and is found in 

 Persia, the Punjab, and the country of Cutch. The creature is 

 of great swiftness ; it has been stated to be untameable, but Mr. 

 Tegetmeier makes the absolutely opposite statement that the 

 Ass occasionally " becomes so tame as to be troublesome " ! The 

 Syrian Wild Ass, E. hemijypns, hardly, if at all, differs from this. 



The Kiaug, E. Jiemionns, seems to have more claims to 

 distinctness. In the first place it has a more limited and a 

 ^ Horses, Asses, and Zebras, Loudon, 1S95. 



