284 HOOFED ANIMALS 



made to popularise the use of horseflesh in London, but 

 there is practically no demand for it, except as food for 

 dogs and cats. Apart from the services it renders to man 

 during its life, the Horse on its death yields useful products 

 in its hide and hair ; the former is converted into excellent 

 leather ; the long hair is woven into hair cloth of great use 

 in upholstery, while the short hair is used for a variety of 

 purposes. 



WILD ASS (Equus tceniopus). 

 Coloured Plate XVI. Fig. i. 



Although belonging to the same genus, it is easy to dis- 

 tinguish the Ass from the horse. It is a smaller animal, 

 with a short, upright mane, very long ears, and the tail has 

 long hair only at the end. The hoof is narrower and more 

 pointed than that of the horse. Though the animal has been 

 domesticated from the very earliest periods, there are still 

 parts of the world where it is as wild and free as ever was 

 the Dziggetai, or Wild Ass of the Scriptures, which in its 

 fleetness t snuffed up the wind like dragons.' 



In Asia the Wild Ass (Equus hemionus), or Onager, 

 ranges from Syria, through Persia, and over vast tracts in 

 Central Asia. In Africa the animal occurs in the north- 

 east of the continent, particularly in Abyssinia, Somaliland, 

 and parts of the Sudan. It is the African species that is 

 figured on the plate. The Asiatic species averages six or 

 seven feet in length, with a height at the shoulders of about 

 four feet. In colour it is generally silver-grey with the 

 under parts white, a dark stripe running along the middle 

 of the back, from the mane to the tail. There is, however, 

 considerable variety in colour, for reddish-grey and chestnut 

 animals are quite common. 



Inhabiting more or less arid regions, the Wild Ass, in 

 parties of from two to a dozen, roams over the desert 

 plains or the mountain uplands, seeking grass and water 

 at varying elevations according to the season. It is said 

 that a herd of as many as a thousand animals has been 

 encountered, probably consisting mainly of mares and 

 foals. 



