1860.] Memorándum on Mr. Blytlispaper on Wild Asses. 137 



The end of tbe pair was trágica!. In a gale of wind off fche Cape 

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

 overboard alive, as bis existenee seemed no longer necessary after tbe 

 Kyang's deatb. 



Tbus mucb as to tbe Kyang's identity. I must add, however, tbat 

 although I am tbus forced to show Mr. Blytb's mistake in tbis mat- 

 ter-of-fact, 1 in reality corrobórate tbe forcé of his arguments as to 

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

 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 (tbough in a somevvhat different sense), the alleged distinc- 

 tions pointed oud by Dr. "Walker are probably enougb valueless. 



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

 as would make my opinión of any weigbt 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 tbese animáis 

 dead and alive. 



In tbe first place, my impression as to tbe voice of the Kyar.g is 

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

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

 point are easily reconeileable, I think, considering the inarticulate 

 nature of the sounds. 



As to the colour of the animal, it varíes 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 mucb, but is often as strongly marked as in the Ass bred 

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



1 see nothing in the habits of tbe Kyang to make it improbable 

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

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

 of Tibet ; and tbough in winter the climate in wbich he exists is 

 different enougb from tbat of tbe plains of Sindb, yet in the summer 

 the arid suríace 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. 



Tbe Kyang, so far as externa! aspect is concerned, is obviously an 

 Ass and not a Horse. 



