Abyssinian Wild Ass 69 



a dark stripe down the back, another across the withers, and some bars on 

 the legs. The sub-genus is typified by the domestic ass (£. asinus), of 

 which two wild races, E. asinus tceniopus and E. asinus somalicus, inhabit 

 North-Eastern Africa. 



The zebras (sub-genus Hippotigris), which range over the open districts 

 south of the Sahara, and are peculiar to Africa, differ from the asses in that 

 at least the head and fore-part of the body are striped ; the stripes in some 

 cases extending over the whole animal. Four well-marked species may be 

 recognised, viz. : — the quagga (E. quagga), now extinct, Burchell's zebra 

 (£. burchelli), Grevy's zebra (E. grevyi), and the true or mountain zebra 

 (£. zebra). Of the second of these at least seven more or less well-marked 

 local races or sub-species may be distinguished, differing from one another 

 in the arrangement of the stripes on the body, the presence or absence of 

 intermediate "shadow-stripes," and the extent to which the striping extends 

 on to the legs. 



The Abyssinian Wild Ass [Equits asinus tceniopus) 



This may be called the ordinary African wild ass. It has a wide dis- 

 tribution in the desert portions of North-East Africa — Abyssinia, Somali- 

 land, Gallaland, the Soudan, and other regions lying adjacent to the Red Sea. 

 It is manifestly a distinct animal from the Asiatic species, having longer 

 ears, a somewhat shorter mane, and a thinner tail. It is also less rufous in 

 tint, the general body colouring being creamy-gray. Upon the back runs 

 a dark dorsal list, and the shoulders are crossed by a dark striping. The 

 legs are more or less barred. The under- parts are white, as are the 

 muzzle, and a patch under the throat. This fine wild ass stands occasion- 

 ally as much as 14 hands at the withers, but about 13 hands would 

 probably be a more average measurement. 



The late Sir Samuel Baker, in his delightful book, The Nile Tributaries 

 of Abyssinia, has a good deal to say concerning this fleet and desert-loving 



