374 WILD ANIMALS. 



with, the shade most prevalent of the ground that it inhabits. 

 Thus it much resembles the sand of the desert. 



" I shot one fine specimen, a male in excellent condition, although 

 the miserable pasturage of the desert is confined to the wiry 

 herbage already mentioned ; of this the stomach was full, chewed 

 into morsels like chopped reeds. His height was about 13 "3 or 

 14 hands ; the shoulder was far more sloping than that of the 

 domestic ass ; the hoofs were remarlcable for their size, width, and 

 firmness, being as broad as those of a horse of fifteen hands." 



It is the portrait of an animal of this species which has been 

 chosen for the illustration to this chapter. The Httle foal accom- 

 panying its mother is only about three weeks old, and, as can be 

 seen, is a more graceful looking little creature than a young horse 

 at the same age, for it is not quite so long-legged. The shoulder 

 marks upon the older animal are also very noticeable. 



