KIA\G. 29 



The Chigetai-Kiang is a native of Mongolia and Turkestan 

 ranging northwards to Transbaikalia and westwards to Transcaspia. 

 In size it is large, the height at the shoulder reachin*'- to 

 12J hands. The ears (in comparison with those of E. asiims) are 

 relatively small and horselike; and the hoofs are large and broad 

 the width of the front pair markedly exceeding that of the hind 

 ones. The tail-tuft is large, and a slight rudiment of a forelock is. 

 present. A relatively narrow dark dorsal stripe reaching- the tail- 

 tuft, and (in most cases at any rate) not bordered with white is 

 present; but there is no shoulder-stripe, or dark barring's on the 

 limbs, although there is a dark ring immediately above the hoofs. 

 The general colour of the upper-parts, in the summer coat, varies 

 fiom bright rufous chestnut (with a more or less marked tin^-e of 

 greyish fawn on the neck) to reddish sandy; but the muzzle the 

 inside of the ear, the throat, under-parts, the inner side of the leo-*< 

 and a streak on the buttocks, are pure white or huffish white. In 

 the long winter coat the general colour is apparently not distinctly 

 grey, although greyish in the typical form. The cry is a 

 '' shrieking bray.'^ 



The Kiang {Equiis hemionus kiang, fig. 19;, of Ladak and Tibet, 

 as maybe seen by comparing the mounted specimen (M. 1013) in 

 the lower mammal gallery of the Museum with the example of 

 the Somali Wild Ass standing in the same case, is characterised 

 by the great width of the hoofs, more especially the front pair. In 

 this respect it approaches Equus caballus (as it does in its 

 relatively small ears and its colour), and differs widely from 

 E. asinus. The Ghor-khar and Onagers, on the other hand, have 

 small and narrow hoofs, like those of the last-named species. 



The Kiang is by far the reddest of all the Asiatic Wild Asses, 

 and apparently becomes but little greyer in winter. In addition to 

 its small ears, broad hoofs, narrow dorsal stripe, and «-eneral 

 colour, it is affiliated to Equus caballus (inclusive of the Wild 

 Horse of Mongolia, E. c. przevalskii) by the nature of its cry, 

 which is to a great extent intermediate between that of the Horse 

 and the Ass ; although there is a certain amount of discrepancy 

 between the description of the Kiang's call given by different 

 observers. General Cunningham, for instance, in his w^ork on 

 ''Ladak,^^ calls it a neigh, and other observers have described it as 



