THE ONAGER. 313 



never became wild again : Pliny states that the 

 domestic breeds were always improved by cross- 

 ing with wild animals. It is unquestionably from 

 these also that the fine race of Egypt and Arabia is 

 derived, for there is here again a suspicion that the 

 low smaller domestic breeds of Asia are not of the 

 same origin, but derived from 



The Hymar, or Hamar (Plate XIX.), probably 

 the real Chamor of the Hebrews, and was first 

 figured by Sir R. Kerr Porter. It is justly re- 

 marked by Bishop Heber, that this animal differs 

 from the great wild ass, Ghoor-Khur, or Djiggetai, 

 being smaller, with proportionably a large ugly head, 

 no streak or cross on the shoulders, and having a 

 dirty bay livery ; it appears to be more solitary than 

 the fojmer. The habits of stopping may be chiefly 

 applicable to this animal, when pursued on the open 

 plains of Mesopotamia and the provinces bordering 

 the two rivers. It is no doubt the animal Xenophon 

 particularly mentions to have been seen by him, like 

 the Zebras of the south, in company with ostriches, 

 when he traversed the same region. Though con- 

 founded at present, it is probably one of the several 

 designated in the Scriptures. * From this stock the 

 small little valued domestic asses of Ispahan, per- 



* The Emperor Philip, after his campaigns in Mesopotamia 

 and Armenia, exhibited only twenty Onagri in the shows of 

 Rome, which, had the gregarious kind been within his reach, 

 he would scarcely have deemed sufficient ; for being by birth 

 an Arabian, he had every inducement to procure them. See 

 Pomp. Laetus, 1. i. 



