HYBRID EQUID.E. 67 



Ass {E. asinus) Hybrids. 



The hybrids between both sexes of the ass and the horse 

 have been spoken of under the last heading. The ass also 

 hybridises freely with BurchelPs zebra ; a hybrid of this 

 is now in the Jardin d^Acclimatation. It is rather sparely 

 striped, but the three shoulder stripes are well marked. 



Asiatic Ass {E. hemionus) Hybrids. 



The Asiatic iiss hybridises with the horse, as has been 

 already stated. It has also been mated with BurclielPs 

 zebra in the Jardin des Plantes, the produce being a 

 faintly striped animal with a broad dorsal stripe, the hind 

 quarters of which are not striped but dappled. The cross 

 between the Asiatic ass and the mare has been already 

 named. 



Mountain Zebra (E. zebra) Hybrids. 



Several of these were apparently recorded in the 

 " Knowsley Menagerie," but sufficient care was not taken to 

 distinguish between the two species, namely, the Mountain 

 and BurchelPs zebras. 



Burchell's Zebra (E. hurchellii) Hybrids. 



BurchelPs zebra breeds most freely with several of the 

 other species of Equus, and there is no doubt whatever that 

 the hybrids of this most horse-like of the asses and zebras 

 now existing would be exceedingly valuable to man if the 

 animals were mated as carefully as is done in breeding 

 heavy draught mules in Poitou, and pack mules for the 

 military service in India. The Burchell is an animal much 

 better adapted by its structure and form to the use of man 

 than the otlier wild asses, and were it properly mated and 



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