34 
GUIDE TO THE 
i 
vomit owing to a peculiar arrangement of muscular fibres 
around the opening into the stomach, which closes the ori¬ 
fice in any upward peristaltic movement of the digestive 
sac. Ruminants, also from the construction of their sto¬ 
machs, do not vomit. 
In one of the divisions, the Wild Ass of South-Western 
Asia, Equus onager , is generally represented by two or 
more individuals. It occurs in Cutch, through Sindh to 
Persia ; another species, the Hemippa, Equus hemippus , 
taking its place in Syria, and yet another, the Kiang, Equus 
hemionns , in Tibet. The specimens in the Gardens arc 
from Cutch. Every effort has been made to tame them 
and make them useful, but in vain. Two of them, a marc 
and a stallion, have the usual pale uniform grey coat with 
the dorsal line ; but in an adult gelding, the sides of the 
body and the shoulders even to the elbows, are covered 
with fine reticulations of faint brown lines. 
The common Ass of the Soudan, Eastern Africa, Equus 
a sinus , is illustrated by a very good example of the 
breed, its colour being very much the same as the preced¬ 
ing, but it has the characteristic transverse mark on the 
shoulder. 
The Camclidce are only represented now by the Llamas. 
The Camel used formerly to be exhibited here, but the 
climate proved so detrimental to it, that it was resolved 
not to persevere in giving it a place in the collections. 
Closely allied to the Camel is the Llama of South 
America. The Lama peruana might be called the Camel of 
South America, as it fulfils almost the same uses to the 
inhabitants of that country as the camel docs to the Arab. 
It is used for riding and as a beast of burden ; its 
milk is drunk ; its flesh is eaten, and the skin and hair 
