178 THE HORSE AND ITS RELATIVES 



the horse. The ears, although larger than in the 

 horse, lack the excessive length and breadth dis- 

 tinguishing those of the ass. On the other hand, 

 the members of the kiang group display affinity 

 to zebras and asses, not only in the absence 

 of hind-chestnuts, and the large size and smooth 

 surface of the front ones, but likewise in the length 

 of the period of gestation, which is about a twelve- 

 month, whereas the mare only goes with young 

 for eleven months. 



Of all the members of the group the largest, 

 and in some respects the finest, is the kiang 

 (E quits kiang) of the elevated plateaux of Ladak 

 and Tibet, where it goes about in small troops, 

 which gallop in circles round the mounted traveller 

 or his camp in such a manner as to completely 

 prevent in many instances the successful pursuit 

 of nobler game, or, I might say, game of any 

 kind, as kiang are scarcely entitled to that designa- 

 tion. Curiosity is a marked trait of the kiang ; 

 so strongly developed in some instances that young 

 individuals, as has happened to myself, will walk 

 almost into the camp. These animals are free 

 movers, going at a fine, springy trot, and the 

 manner in which they traverse the most rocky 

 ground, and this, too, at an elevation of between 

 13,000 and 16,000 feet, is marvellous; their hoofs 

 must be like flint, and their lungs as strong as 

 bellows. 



