232 On the different Animals known as wild Asses. [No. 3 



most conspicuous, the dorsal stripe being continued down the tail just 

 as in the asinine series ; yet in all other respects it was a handsome 

 robust pony, with copious equine mane and tail, shewing no approxi- 

 mation whatever to the asinine group in its structure or voice. 

 Those who believe that the domestic Horse is a compound species, 

 derived from a plurality of aboriginal races, may well infer that 

 they perceive, in the markings described, indications of certain of 

 those' races.* 



In some examples of the Ghor-Mur, as that figured by Dr. Wal- 

 ker (from a drawing from life by Dr. Cantor) ,f there are no traces 

 whatever of markings on the limbs ; others shew slight traces, more 

 or less distinct, chiefly at the joints ; and others again have the 

 entire limbs strongly marked: but the stripes do not resemble those 

 often seen in domestic Donkeys, or in the races of Horse referred 

 to ; in general they are wavy lines of fawn, often more or less crossed 

 or reticulate, — but in some more regular and Zebra-like, — upon ob- 

 serving which, I remembered the description in Bell's ' Travels inTar- 

 tary' (I, 224), of the ' wild Asses' found in the country of the 

 Tzulimm Tartars, " the hair of which is waved, white and brown 

 like that of a Tiger:" he " had seen many of their skins." So far 

 as the limbs are concerned, this description is quite intelligible with 

 reference to many Indian examples of the Ghor-khur. 



* It does not follow, because the hybrid offspring of the Hcrse and Ass is 

 mostly infertile (the male mule perhaps always), that distinct species of the Equine 

 or Caballine group, or of the Asinine group respectively, should not produce a 

 prolific intermediate race, hybrid with hybrid. In the London Zoological Gardens 

 there was formerly a triple hybrid, the sire of which was a Quagga, and the dam 

 a cross between the Ass and Zebra. 



The curious animal figured by Col. C. H. Smith, in his volume on the Solidun- 

 yula in the 'Naturalist's Library,' by the name Asinus hippayrus (vel equuleus), 

 appears to me to be a Chinese hinny^ or offspring of the Horse and she-Ass. Its 

 stripes might have been derived from either parent, if not and very probably from 

 both of them. Col. Smith also figures what he terms an ' Eel-back dun' from the 

 Ukraine, with the humeral cross-stripe but no limb-markings. In the text, how- 

 ever, he repeatedly alludes to those markings, as occurring sometimes in the c Eel- 

 back dun' race. 



f J. A. 8, XVII, pt. II, p. 1, and pi. 1. This published figure is bad, whatever 

 the drawing may have been. There is no anatomy about it ; and the grace and 

 beautiful contour of the creature are not at all pourtrayed. The head, in particular 

 and the haunch are exceedingly ill-repiesented. 



