THE AFRICAN WILD ASS. 15 



for 1892 this lij^brid is described as a fine animal, which 

 resembles its male parent rather than the mother. Since 

 then the female African ass has produced other foals, 

 the male parent being in all cases an African of the 

 usual grey colour and dark shoulder stripe common to the 

 species. These foals were born respectively in 1889, 1891, 

 and the last on October 13th, 1892. The latter offers a 

 striking example of variation from the usual markings and 

 colour of the species to which it belongs. It is of a reddish 

 fawn colour, somewhat shaggy in coat, and is remarkably 

 distinguished by a large star on the forehead and a white 

 blaze down the face, such as is rarely, if ever, seen in any 

 species of ass, wild or domesticated. There is the slightest 

 possible indication of stripes on the legs and of the 

 shoulder stripe, and the ears are shorter than those of the 

 parents. It has passed into the possession of Mr. A. J. 

 S cott, of Rotherfield Park, Alton, Hants, and is remarkably 

 tame and sociable. 



Now, the question that presents itself is whether this is 

 an accidental variation, such as occurs from time to time 

 in almost all animals, especially those in confinement or 

 domestication, or whether it is an instance of the influence 

 of a previous impregnation, and that the animal has 

 reverted to the characters of the Hemippe, which was the 

 parent of the first foal produced by the female. 



The influence of the first sire on all subsequent offspring 

 is a subject of very considerable importance that has not 

 received the scientific investigation that it merits. It is 

 generally accepted by breeders of dogs, and in the case of 

 valuable animals the effect of a mesalliance is carefully 

 guarded against. It is one that is recognised by physio- 

 logists as affecting the human species, and the example 

 of the striped foals that were always bred by a mare 



