238 EQUID^E. 



ever traceable in the kiang. The white of the tinder parts extends 

 higher upwards, in some joining the white border of the dorsal streak, 

 and thus isolating the isabelline hue of the haunch ; and the muzzle has 

 more white than in the kiang. 



The ghorkhur is found sparingly in Cutch, Guzrat, Jeysalmeer and 

 Bikaneer, not being found further south, it is said, than Deesa, or east 

 of 75 east longitude. It also occurs in Sindh, and more abundantly 

 west of the Indus river, in Beluchistan, extending into Persia and 

 Turkistan, as far north as north latitude 48. It appears that the 

 Bikaneer herd consists at most of about 150 individuals, which frequent 

 an oasis a little elevated above the surrounding desert, and commanding 

 an extensive view around. A writer in the Indian Sporting Review, 

 writing of this species as it occurs in the Pdt, a desert country between 

 Asnee arid the hills west of the Indus, above Mithunkote, says, " They are 

 to be found wandering pretty well throughout the year ; but in the early 

 summer, when the grass and the water in the pools have dried up from 

 the hot winds (which are here terrific), the greater number, if not all 

 of the ghorkhurs migrate to the hills for grass and water. The foaling 

 season is in June, July, and August, when the Beluchis ride down and 

 catch numbers of foals, finding a ready sale in the cantonments for them, 

 as they are taken down on speculation to Hindustan. They also shoot 

 great numbers of full-grown ones for food, the ground in places in the 

 desert being very favourable for stalking." In Bikaneer too, according to 

 information given by Major Tytler to Mr. Blyth, " once only in the year, 

 when the foals are young, a party of five or six native hunters, mounted 

 on hardy Sindh mares, chase down as many foals as they succeed in tiring, 

 which lie down when utterly fatigued, and suffer themselves to be bound 

 and carred off. In general they refuse sustenance at first, and about one- 

 third only of those taken are reared j but these command high prices, and 

 find a ready sale with the native princes. The profits are shared by the 

 party, who do not attempt a second chase in the same year, lest they 

 should scare the herd from the district, as these men regard the sale of 

 a few ghorkhurs annually as a regular source of subsistence." 



This wild ass is very shy and difficult to approach, and has great speed. 

 A full-grown one has however been run down fairly and speared, more 

 than once. It was generally believed that almost all the males shot or 

 otherwise procured were castrated, and that the old males thus treated all 

 the young ones which they could manage to overcome in fight. This idea 



