12 THE AFRICAN WILD ASS. 



The African wild ass is now regarded by all zoologists 

 as tlie origin of our domesticated animal. As this species 

 was originally termed Equus asinus by Linnaeus, the name 

 should be retained in place of Equus tceniopus, which was 

 subsequently given it by Heuglin, even although the latter 

 has been extensively used in scientific works. The appel- 

 lation toeniopus, stripe footed, expresses the fact that many 

 of the species possess dark markings on the lower part of 

 the limbs. 



The African ass is found wild in Abyssinia, Nubia, and 

 other parts of North-east Africa lying between the Nile 

 and the Red Sea. Its colour and markings approach 

 closely to those of the ordinary domestic ass ; it possesses a 

 distinct shoulder stripe running from the withers down to 

 the commencemient of the fore leg, similar to that seen 

 almost invariably in the donkey. The ears of the African 

 are longer than those of the Asiatic asses. The activity 

 and speed of the animal must not be judged of by those of 

 the domesticated ass, which has suffered, in this country at 

 least, from continued neglect and scanty fare for centuries. 

 Sir Samuel Baker, speaking of the wild ass, says : 



" Those who have seen donkeys only in their civUised state caa 

 have no conception of the beauty of the wild or original animal. 

 It is the perfection of activity and courage. It has a high bred 

 tone in its deportment, a high-actioned step when it trots freely 

 over the rocks and sand, with the speed of a horse when it 

 gallops over the boundless desert. The specimens now in the 

 Zoological G-ardens will enable any one to perceive the character 

 of the animal as it was before being altered by generations of 

 captivity." 



The bray of the African is identical with that of our 

 common ass, and Darwin, in his "Variation," notes the 

 marked aversion to walking across a brook, which charac- 



