1S60.] Memorandum on Mr. Blytti s paper on Wild Asses. 137 



The end of the pair was tragical. In a gale of wind off the Cape 

 the Kyang died ; and the Captain somewhat savagely threw the pony 

 overboard alive, as his existence seemed no longer necessary after the 

 Kyang's death. 



Thus much as to the Kyang's identity. I must add, however, that 

 although I am thus forced to show Mr. Blyth's mistake in this mat- 

 ter-of-fact, I in reality corroborate the force of his arguments as to 

 the probable specific identity of the two Asses, — the Kyang and the 

 Ghor-khur. It is obvious that Dr. Walker's description of a true 

 Kyang, answers perfectly for a true Ghor-khur, — and as Mr. Blyth 

 observes (though in a somewhat different sense), the alleged distinc- 

 tions pointed out* by Dr. "Walker are probably enough valueless. 



I have no pretensions to such a knowledge of Zoology or Anatomy 

 as would make my opinion of any weight on the question of specific 

 identity ; but I may add a few words as to some of the more pro- 

 minent features of the Kyang, having seen many of these animals 

 dead and alive. 



In the first place, my impression as to the voice of the Kyang is 

 that it is a shrieking bray — not like that of the common Ass — but 

 still a real bray and not a neigh. The differences of opinion on this 

 point are easily reconcileable, I think, considering the inarticulate 

 nature of the sounds. 



As to the colour of the animal, it varies very greatly, and I think 

 no dependence, as regards specific character, can be placed on mere 

 depth of tint or brilliancy of hue. So also as to the dorsal and 

 humeral stripes. The dorsal stripe is always plain. The humeral 

 cross varies much, but is often as strongly marked as in the Ass bred 

 in Kumaon, in which, however, it is not commonly very well defined. 



I see nothing in the habits of the Kyang to make it improbable 

 that it is, in fact, the same species as the Ghor-khur. The Kyang 

 must be a very hardy animal to be able to live on the desert plateaus 

 of Tibet ; and though in winter the climate in which he exists is 

 different enough from that of the plains of Sindh, yet in the summer 

 the arid surface and scorching heat of the mid-day sun place the 

 Kyang much more on a par with the Ghor-khur than might be sup- 

 posed. 



The Kyang, so far as external aspect is concerned, is obviously an 

 Ass and not a Horse. 



