•2-2 THE ASIATIC WILD ASi 



Afghan frontier expedition of 1884^ stated that he saw a 

 herd in north-western Afghanistan that he regarded as. 

 consisting of some thousand animals. 



In the description of this species bj Blanford in his 

 '' Fanna of British Indian" we are informed that the ears 

 are large, that the tail is covered with short hair near "the 

 base, which grows gradually longer towards the end, that 

 the mane is erect, and that there is a naked callositT on 

 the in si de of each fore-arm, but none on the hind less. 

 The general colottr of the Asiatic wild ass is a sort of 

 mfons grer, which Taries to fawn colour, or even pale 

 chestnnt. The nnder parts of the body are white. A dark 

 brown stripe, which varies in breadth, sometimes being 

 margined with white, runs down from the nape to the tail, 

 and occasionally there is a dark cross stripe on the 

 shoulder, and faint rufous bars are said to occur at times 

 on the hmbs. The end of the tail is blackish. In height 

 the Asiatic wild ass varies from 3ft. Sin. to 4ft. Its food 

 consists of various grasses and the herbage of other plants. 

 Its voice is described by ilr. Blanford as being a shrieking 

 bray. These wild asses are remarkable for their speed and 

 endurance. ^Mx. Blanford informs us that in the country 

 west of the Indus, the mares are said to drop their foals 

 in June, July, and August; the period of gestation he 

 regards as eleven months, but it is more probably identical 

 with that of the African species, and exceeds twelve months. 

 Two local varieties of the Asiatic ass, the Onager and the 

 Kiang, though not regarded by zoologists as specifically 

 distinct, call for distinct notice. 



