THE ASS. 367 



assembly, and at last went to a sober -woman and toucbed ber 

 witb bis nose, wbereat tbe residue wondered and laugbed, sbutting 

 up tbe sport witb crying out, an asse's woman, an asse's woman, 

 and so tbe player went unto anotber town." 



"Wild asses are to be found in botb Asia and Africa, and tbe 

 animals of tbis group common to Asiatic countries bave been 

 subdivided into tbree or four species or varieties ; tbe apparent 

 differences between tbem are eitber tbe geograpbical position of 

 tbeir babitat, or else some sligbt variation in tbeir size, or tbe 

 sound tbey utter. 



The onager (Equus onager) is tbe name given to tbe wild ass of 

 tbe Asiatic deserts. It is found in Tartary, Mesopotamia, Persia, 

 and even to tbe soutbern extremity of Hindustan. Pallas first 

 described tbis animal under tbe name of Jcoulan, by wbicb it is 

 known in tbe bigb steppes around tbe Caspian Sea. 



It differs from tbe domestic species in baving a more graceful 

 carriage, cleaner and longer limbs, sborter and more rounded ears, 

 and a finer coat, wbicb is a ligbt, reddisb-grey in tbe summer, but 

 in tbe winter fades to a mucb paler colour, sometimes becoming 

 silvery- wbite. Tbe dark line along tbe back is generally to be 

 seen in tbis species, but tbe cross upon tbe sboulder is rarely as 

 conspicuous as it is in tbe domesticated animals. Tbey exbibit a 

 partiality for bitter and saline berbage, and are fond of salt or 

 brackisb water. 



Some interest attacbes to tbis species from its being in all 

 probability identical witb tbe " wild ass " so frequently referred 

 to in tbe Holy Scriptures. 



" Tbe allusions to tbe wild ass in tbe Old Testament," says a 

 writer in " Chambers's Encyclopedia," " and particularly in Job 

 xxxix., naturally excite tbe surprise of readers acquainted only 

 witb tbe dull domestic drudge, tbe emblem of patience and 

 stolidity, but to tbis day tbey are beautifully appropriate to tbe 

 wild ass of ' tbe wilderness,' wbicb bas tbe ' barren land,' or ' salt 

 places,' for its dwelling, and ' tbe range of tbe mountains ' for its 



pasture." 



Tbese wild asses are gregarious in tbeir babits, and live in troops, 

 grazing in large numbers on tbe plains tbey frequent during tbe 



