1862.] DR. SCLATER ON WILD ASSES. 163 
June 10, 1862. 
Professor Busk, F.R.S., in the Chair. 
Dr. Sclater exhibited, on behalf of Capt. J. W. P. Orde, F.Z.S., a 
specimen of a black variety of the Water-Vole (drvicola amphibius’), 
also remarkable for its posteriorly elongated hairs and rather long 
tail, obtained in Argyllshire; and a Red-crested Duck (Branta ru- 
fina), shot January 1862 on a freshwater lake in the same county, 
where it was observed in company with Golden-eye (Clangula 
glaucion). 
Dr. Sclater also exhibited some drawings representing the four 
generally recognized species of Wild Asses, and made some remarks 
on the geographical distribution and distinctive peculiarities of these 
animals, and on the specimens of them exhibited in the Society’s 
Menagerie. The species, as commented upon, were as follows :— 
1, AsInus HEMIONUS, ex Asia boreali. 
The Kiang or Tibetan Wild Ass, of which the Society had a fine 
female specimen in the Menagerie, presented by Major Hay in 1859*, 
seemed to be without doubt the true Eguus hemionus of Pallas, and 
as such entitled to bear that name, as proposed to be restored to it 
by Dr. Gray in his ‘ List of Ungulata,’ published in 1852. 
2. ASINUS INDICUS, ex deserto Indico. 
The Wild Ass of Cutch, of which the Society had in their Mena- 
gerie a single example, presented by Sir T. Erskine Perry in 1849, 
had been commonly called Hguus hemionus. It was, however, ob- 
viously distinct from the Tibetan animal, but apparently hardly sepa- 
rable from the next species. 
3. AsINUS HEMIPPUS, ex Persia et Syria, 
Of this Ass, lately named Asinus hemippus by M. I. G. St.-Hilairet, 
but which was probably the H. onager of Pallas, and seemed hardly 
different from the Indian animal, the Society possessed two speci- 
mens, both females. One of these was from Persia, having been 
presented by the Hon. Charles Murray in 1859{, and represented 
* See Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 353. 
+ Compt. Rend. xli. p. 1214. 
{ Mr. Murray has kindly furnished me with the following note concerning this 
animal :—‘‘ The Ghour or Kherdecht of the Persians is doubtless the Onager of 
the ancients. Your specimen was caught, when a foal, on the range of mountains 
which stretch from Kermanshah on the west in a S.E. direction to Shiraz. These 
are inhabited by several wild and half-independent tribes, the most powerful of 
which are the Buchtzari. The Ghour is a remarkably fleet animal, and moreover 
so shy and enduring that he can rarely be overtaken by the best-mounted horse- 
men in Persia. For this reason they chase them now, as they did in the time of 
Xenophon, by placing relays of horsemen at intervals of eight or ten miles. These 
relays take up the chase successively, and tire down the Ghour. The flesh of the 
Ghour is esteemed a great delicacy, not being held unclean by the Moslem, as it 
was in the Mosaic code. I do not know whether this species is ever known to 
