! 
120 Defcription of the Equus Hemionus. 
and are always on the watch to guard againft being Giariiiehs 
When they obferve any thing uncommon at a diftance, the 
male immediately fprings forwards ; endeavours, by making 
a tour, to approach fo'near the abject as to difcover the dan- 
ger, and for that purpofe advances two or threc times 
towards the hunters, who lie clofe.to the ground on their 
bellies. On fuch occafions fome of them are fhot; the herd 
then difperfe, and for fome time afford good fport to the 
huntfmen. If the male, howeve tr, obferves the danger, he 
makes the herd which he left behind him betake them- 
felyes to flight with incredible velocity. The Moguls {peak 
of this velocity with, aftonifhment; and, in general, the 
dfhiggetai is confidered as the {wifteft of all the wild animals 
of their country: for this reafon the people of Thibet affign 
it, inftead of a riding horfe, to chammo, their god of fire and 
of war, 
The dfhiggetai always carries its head erect, as reprefented 
in the plate; when running, throws it entirely back, in order 
that it may fee better behind it; and bears its tail ereét. 
It has a particular kind of neighing, which is louder and 
fhriller than that of a horfe. The herds by which old males 
are attended confift often of more than twenty males and 
females ; though, in general, they are lefs numerous, as many 
males have no more than five or ten females. Young males 
driven from old herds generally follow them at a diftance, 
ull they have enticed from them one or more females, or 
have found fome that have ftrayed from other herds, and 
thus procure to themfelves a few followers. At the cover- 
ing feafon the old males feparate from their herds the young 
females not yet hot. The Moguls are faid to have remarked 
alfo, that thefe half-affes fometimes entice away mares fron 
the troops of tame horfes which wander about in thefe dif. 
tricts, -and add them to their feraglio. Of this, however, 
J am not fully convinced; though, on account of the great 
fimilarity and lkenefs in regard to fize which the dfhiggetai 
has with the Mogul horfes, procreation muft be much eafier 
between 
