5 o8 



UNGULATES. 



The Asses (Eqwus hemionus and asinus). 



The true asses differ from the zebras in having their bodies without a series of 

 stripes, although there is always a dark streak down the back, and sometimes 

 another across the shoulders, and likewise irregular transverse bars on the limbs. 



Wild asses are widely distributed over the more arid regions of 

 ' Asia, ranging from Syria to Persia and Western India, and northwards 





THE TIBETAN WILD ASS, OR KIANG (^ nat. size). 



over a large extent of Central Asia. It was long considered that there were three 

 distinct species of these animals, but although there are at least two well-marked 

 varieties, Mr. Blanford is of opinion that the whole of these form but a single 

 species (E. hemionus). These asses have moderate-sized ears and rather long tails, 

 and stand from 3 feet 8 inches to 4 feet (11 to 12 hands) at the withers. They 

 have a dark brown stripe, sometimes bordered with white, running from the back 

 of the head to the upper portion of the tail, the fore-part of this stripe being formed 



