Pachydermata.- 
MAMMALIA.- 
-Pachydermata. 
180 
lion, not even excepting tlie mountain zebra, more 
splendidly attired, or presenting a picture of more 
singularly attractive beauty, than this free-born of the 
desert. It would be difficult to convey to the unini- 
tiated a suitable idea of the sparkling effect produced 
by their vivid and strikingly-contrasted colours, when 
seen pawing the valley in all the pride of conscious 
liberty, or flying in compact columns before tbe eques- 
trian foe.” Warming up with the vision of a mighty 
herd bounding over the sandy main, our eloquent 
author continues : — “ Anon, a dark pillar of dust rises 
from the plain, and undisturhed by any breath in 
heaven, mounts upward to the clear azure sky like a 
wreath of smoke — three ill-omened vultures soaring in 
circles above it. Nearer and more near rolls on the 
thickening column, until several dark living objects are 
shortly perceived dancing beneath it. Emerging from 
the obscurity, their glossy and exquisitely variegated 
coats, glittering in the sun’s rays, ventre au terre, the 
head of a column of Burchell’s zebras next appears, 
and instantly afterwards the serried horde sweep past 
in gallant array; their hoofs clattering on the hard 
ground like a regiment of dragoons. Tearing by at 
racing speed, straining neck and neck with their shaggy 
whimsical-looldng bovine allies (f.e. Brindled Gnoos), 
their own striped and proudly curved necks seem as if 
they were clothed with thunder, and their snowy tails 
are streaming behmd them. Now the troop has 
wheeled and halted for an instant to survey the foe. 
A powerful stallion advances a few paces with distended 
nostrils and stately gait ; his mane newly hogged, and 
his ample tail srvitching his gaily checkered thighs. 
Hastily reconnoitrhig the huntsman, he snorts wildly, 
and instantly gallops back to his cohort. Away thej'' 
scour again, neighing and tossing their striped heads 
aloft, switching their light mule-like tails in all the 
pride of fleetness and freedom. Another halt and 
another reconnaissance. Her small equine ears laid 
viciously down, a skittish mare has now fallen out of 
the ranks, and is in the act of delivering both her 
active heels plump into the ribs of an admirer, whose 
wantonness has prompted him to seize a tempting 
opportunity for inflicting upon her sternum an amorous 
bite ; and now, with a neigh of exultation and a vain- 
glorious toss of her coquettish head, free and unfettered 
as the wind, away she careers again, still waited upon 
by her lover, who is nothing daunted by his rebutf ; 
and their forms are finally concealed by the cloud which 
follows the heels of the again retreating squadron.” A 
gorgeous specimen of this truly beautiful species, may 
now be seen in the Eegent’s Park menagerie. 
THE ASS {Asinus vulgaris) has been generic-ally 
separated by Dr. J. E. Gray, and is readily dis- 
tinguished from the various kinds of horse by its 
tail, wbich is clothed with short hair at the upper 
part, and only tufted at the extremity ; the hind legs 
being likewise devoid of warty callosities. The fur 
has a grey colour, and exhibits a dark streak along 
the central line of the back, crossed by a similar band 
running over the shoulders. The ears are of great 
length ; the forehead being also slightly arched. Re- 
specting the qualities of this animal, we need say little. 
No unfortunate beast of burden is so much neglected 
on the one hand, or maltreated on the other. As to 
its origin, naturalists are divided in opinion; some 
maintaming that it is a domesticated variety of the 
Koulan, or wild ass of Persia {Asinus onager), others 
believing that the last-named is only the domestic ani- 
mal which has returned to a wild state — the original 
stock having altogether disappeared. Whichever view 
is correct, we think there can be little doubt tliat the 
two forms are specifically identical, and consequently 
that they have descended from a common parent. 
THE KIANG {Asinus Hemiomis), or Tschikitei, is 
another kind of wild ass, intermediate in character 
between the above-described species and the horse. 
The ears are of moderate length, the fur is smooth, 
and of a bright nifous-bay tint ; the legs having a pale 
straw colour. A dark broad streak runs along the 
central line of the back, but it is not crossed by any 
similar band over the shoulders. The Kiangs herd 
together in small numbers, roaming over the sandy 
steppes of Central Asia. The males are fine animals, 
standing sometimes as much as fourteen hands high 
at the shoulder ; and, moreover, tlie}^ neigh like horses. 
A noble specimen has been recently brought over 
to this country, and may be seen in the Zoological 
Society’s Menagerie, Regent’s Park. 
Order XI.— PACHYDEEMATA. 
Although naturalists are divided in opinion as to the 
best mode of classifying the non-ruminating hoofed 
quadrupeds, all are agreed that the dissimilar groups, 
collectively associated by Cuvier under the title of 
Pachydermata, cannot fairly be regarded as zoologi- 
cally equivalent to the Ruminantia. It is in this view 
that we have ado])ted a somewhat modified outline of 
the Cuvierian arrangement, while at the same time we 
are prepared to recognize the more perfected idea 
developed in the recent classification of the Mammalia 
by Professor Owen. The Pachydermata, as here 
retained, can scarcely be recognized as having any 
special characteristic common to the entire order. 
unless we are permitted to notify the more or less 
hardened skin, which is to a considerable extent naked 
or destitute of hair. In our opinion, too much stress 
has been laid upon this dermal peculiarity, seeing that 
it is shared by many other Mammalia, and is in no wise 
distinctive ; tlie order has, however, derived its name 
from this trivial circumstance. Hitherto we have 
detailed the more remarkable features of the several 
natural groups in a general introduction to each order; 
but such is the variety of character presented by the 
several families in the present instance, that it is 
better to reserve these particulars for separate con- 
sideration. 
