210 CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



of time ; tliev utter now and then a kind of snort, with a low neigh, somewhat like ;i horse expecting 

 its oaK Inn y-t di-tinguishahlc liy its voice from any domestic species, excepting the woolly Kalmuc 

 breed. They liave a remarkably piercing sight, the point of a Cossack spear at a great distance on the 

 liorixon, seen behind a bush, being sufficient to make a whole troop halt. This, however, is not a token 

 of alarm ; it soon resumes, its march, till some young stallion on the skirts begins to blow with his 

 nostrils, moves his ears rapidly in all directions, and trots or scampers forwards to reconnoitre, the 

 head being very high, and the tail out. 



1 1' bis curiosity is satisfied, he stops and begins to graze ; but if he takes alarm, he flings np his 

 croup, turns round, and, with a peculiar shrill neighing, warns the herd, which immediately turns 

 round and gallops off' at an amazing rate, with the stallions in the rear, stopping and looking back 

 repeatedly, while tne mares and foals disappear as if by enchantment, because, with unerring tact, they 

 select the first swell of ground or ravine to conceal them, until they reappear at a great distance, 

 generally in a direction to preserve the lee-side of the apprehended danger. Though bears and wolves 

 occasionally prowl after a herd, they will not venture to attack it ; for the sultan-stallion will instantly 

 meet the enemy, and, rising on his haunches, strike him down with his fore feet, and, should he be 

 worsted, which is seldom the case, another stallion becomes the champion. In the presence of a troop 

 of wolves, the herd forms a close mass, with the foals within, and the stallions charge in a body, which 

 no troop of wolves will venture to encounter. Carnivora, therefore, must be contented with aged or 

 injured stragglers. 



The sultan-stallion is not, however, suffered to retain the chief authority for more than one season 

 without opposition from others, rising, in the confidence of youthful strength, to try by battle whether 

 the leadership should not be confided to them, and the defeated party driven from the herd into exile. 

 These animals are found in the greatest purity on the Kara Koom, south of the lake Aral, and the 

 Synlaria, near Kusneh, on the banks of the river Torn, in the territory of the Kalkas, the Mangolian 

 deserts, and the solitudes of the Gobi. 



But within the Russian frontier there are some adulterated herds in the vicinity of the fixed 

 settlements, distinguishable by the variety of their colours, and a selection of residence less remote from 

 human habitations. Real tai-pans are not larger than ordinary mules; their colour is invariably tan, 

 Isabella, or mouse, being all shades of the same livery, and only varying in depth by the growth or 

 decrease of a whitish surcoat, longer than the hair, increasing from Midsummer, and falling off in May. 

 During the cold season it is long, heavy, and soft, lying so close as to feel like a bear's fur, and then is 

 entirely grizzled. In summer much falls away, leaving only a certain quantity on the back and loins. 



The head is small, the forehead gently arched, and the ears far back, either long or short ; the 

 eyes small and malignant ; the chin and muzzle beset with bi'istles ; the neck rather thin, and crested 

 with a ragged mane, which, like the tail, is black, as are also the pasterns, which are long ; the hoofs 

 are narrow, high, and rather pointed; the tail, descending only to the hocks, is furnished with coarse 

 and rather wavy hairs, close up to the crupper ; the croup is as high as the withers. The voice of the 

 tarpan is loud, and shriller than that of a domestic horse; and its action, standing, and general 

 appearance resemble somewhat those of vicious mules. 



Several distinctions, as to habits, appear to exist between the wild tarpans and the feral muzin. 

 The former are regularly migratory, proceeding on the approach of summer to the northern latitudes, 

 nnil returning on the approach of autumn ; in the winter they resort to high grounds, where the winds 

 have swept away the snow, or where it is so much disturbed that they can dig through it with their 

 feet to the buried herbage. 



They dislike water, and refuse to cross rivers ; yet with singular address they tread their way 

 through extensive swamps, apparently guided in their choice of the fordable passes by the sense of 

 sin. !!, a tried leader pioneering the way, and being followed by the herd. Their indocility is extreme. 

 Doubtless by judicious methods they may be reclaimed ; but when captured they often break their 

 neeks during their violent struggles, and if not, they turn sulky, and pine till they die. In fighting they 

 ip, Strike with their fore limbs, try to crush their foe, and bite furiously. Towards domestic 

 horses they are taaA to evince great animosity, attacking and endeavouring to destroy them. This 



nmt refers most probably only to the males. 

 'I he i, MI/HI, or feral horses, vary in colour, and have the head larger and the .neck shorter than 



