CHAPTER VII 



THE KIANG AND ONAGER GROUP 



The wild Asiatic representatives of the Equidce, 

 other than the tarpan, are commonly known as wild 

 asses, but they have really no right to that name, 

 any more than they have to be called horses, in the 

 literal sense of that term. Indeed, this does not 

 really express the truth of the matter, for some of 

 them are more nearly related to the horse than they 

 are to the ass. Consequently it is far preferable 

 to employ their native or classical names, such as 

 chigetai, kulan, kiang, onager, and ghor-khar. The 

 near relationship of these animals to the horse, 

 and more especially the wild tarpan, may be made 

 apparent by the following table : — 



I. — AH the hoofs broad, the front much broader than the 

 hind pair, 

 i. — Front hoofs very broad, chestnuts usually on all the 

 legs, ears small, tail more or less completely haired 

 to root, front of fore-legs usually black in bay or dun- 

 coloured individuals. The horse, Equus caballus. 



a. — Mane long and pendent, with a forelock, tail long 

 and fully haired, normally no dorsal or shoulder 

 stripe. E. c. typicus. Domesticated breeds, typified 

 by those of Sweden and Norway (exclusive of the 



Arab and Barb stock). 

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