CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 10. ROLTDU N G ULA. 



619 



V;t^ 



THE ZEBHA AT TI11S GAltDEN OF PLANTS, 1MICIS. 



The Onager or Koulan, Asinus sylvestris — the Equus Onager of Brisson and Pallas, and 

 Asinus Onager of Gray — is the Khur or Gour of the Persians; the Hamar of Mesopotamia, and 

 the Wild Ass of Kutch; it is indeed generally denominated the Wild jlss, but it is doubtful if 

 it he so in fact. It was described by Xenophon and Pliny under the name of Onager. Its color 

 in summer is pale reddish ; in winter grayish ; the dorsal streak, which is common to this and 

 several of the allied species, is black, and rather wider over the small of the back; the skull is 

 high up and far back. It has a general resemblance to the ass, and is found on the plains of 

 Mesopotamia, Persia, Kutch, the shores of the Indus, and the Punjaub. It is said also to exist 

 in large numbers on the high steppes between the Caspian and Aral Seas, and many of them are 

 taken thence to Orenburg. It lives in troops, the old ones being very shy and ditlieult of ap- 

 proach, even within reach of the rifle; the young are frequently caught alive. In general, these 

 animals are left in their wild state, being regarded by the natives of the countries they inhabit as 

 untamable; but at Bom l>ay they are used both for the saddle and for draught, and there is no 

 reason to doubt that they might be generally domesticated and rendered useful. Since 1842 

 several of them, of both sexes, have been in the Garden of Plants at Paris, and have successfully 

 produced and reared young ones. Specimens have also been in the menageries of London and 

 Knowsley, the animals being erroneously called Hemiones. 



The IIemione or Kiang, E. Hemionus — the E. Polyodon of Hodgson; the Wild Assr ofTar- 

 tary — is the Hernione, that is, Demi-Ass of Xenophon ; the Jikta of Shaw ; Dgiggitai of < 'uvier, 

 and Dzigethai of Buffon. In this the fur is short, smooth, and bright-red bay; tin- legs are straw- 

 color; there is a broad, longitudinal dorsal streak, broadest over the small of the hack, without 

 any cross-band on the shoulders. In winter the hair becomes long and woolly, and of a pale 



