98 



Note on the Kiang. By B. II. Hodgson, Esq. 



Since my paper on the Kiang was printed in the last No. of your 

 Journal, it has been suggested to me, that the seventh molar tooth of 

 this species is merely a deciduous tooth, constantly forthcoming in 

 the tame Equines. I can only say in the way of excuse for my own 

 statement, that Cuvier, his Commentator, and H. Smith, in his recent 

 monograph of this very family, were all consulted by me, and all 

 found silent anent this extra tooth of the tame Equines ; and that 

 whilst three perfect sculls of horses and mules procured by me for 

 the sake of comparison, none of them showed this tooth, first one 

 and thereafter two more perfect sculls of Kiang, all of them showed 

 it. Moreover, the opposite anomaly of deficient molars in the Dzigga- 

 tai, resting on the high authority of Pallas, naturally and justly con- 

 firmed my view of the permanent and normal character of the extra 

 molars of the Kiang. 



It may be that I was therein mistaken, but at least it will be allow- 

 ed, that I spoke not without pains and deliberation ; having consulted 

 all the authorities within my reach, and having fetched my sculls of 

 tame Equines for the mere sake of comparison, from distances vary- 

 ing from twenty to thirty miles. 



If the fact be that this seventh molar is constant as a deciduous 

 tooth throughout the horse family, tame and wild, it is most strange 

 that my six specimens should exhibit uniformly an appearance to 

 the contrary, for the Kiang sculls are none of them of animals under 

 four years, though those of the tame Equines are no doubt older 

 and aged. From further examinations made here and enquiries 

 at the Government Stud, I find that young horses occasionally exhi- 

 bit that extra tooth, whilst renewed examination of my Kiang sculls 

 satisfies me, that all three are young, though none under four years. 

 This tooth may therefore possibly yet prove normal and constant 

 in the Kiang, abnormal and inconstant in the tame horse and ass ; 

 and Pallas' anomaly, as well as mine, may yet prove stable ; and 

 at all events, it will be admitted that the question raised, is one of 

 interest and importance. 



But, it is further objected, that my new specific name is superflu- 

 ous as well as erroneous, the species having been priorly named by 



