Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-20
PrZeyalsky's Wild Horse.

HAoii A>"tuie, Az CSt IL
Great interest is attached to the question of
the origin OF our domestic animals, and espe-
claliy to that of the hOrse-which is generally
supposed not now to exist in an aboriginally
wild state. Every fact bearing upon this sub
iect Is of Importance. and the discovery BY the
great Russian traveller. Przevaisky, ola new
wild horse, more nearly allied to the domestic
horse than any previously known species, is GER
tanly wei! worthy of attention.
The horses. which constitute the genera Equus
OF LinnGus. and are the sole recent representa-
tives OF the family Eq,id9, fall naturally into
two sub-genera, as was first shown Dy GRAY in
1879 (ZooL Jo,nn. l.. p. Al )-Eq,sus and AsinuS.
The typical horses (EGnHs) are distinguish
able from the asses (Asiasus) by the presence of
warts upon the hindlegs as well as upon the
fore-legs, by their broad rounded hoofs and by
their tails beginning to throw Off long hairs
from the base instead of having these hairs con-
fined, as sort Of pencil to the extremity of the
tail. Up to recent period all the wild species
OF Eq1tns known to science were rcterabe to the
second OF these sections that is. to the sub
genus ASipus. known from EQtus by the a!)-
sence of warts or caositics on the hnd-legs
by the contracted hoofs and by the long hairs of
the tail being restricted to the extremity of
that organ. Of this group the best known
species commonly called wild asses and Zebras.
are Cd the wild ass of Upper Nubia (Equ,,s
tG'ntOpus). probably the origin of the domestic
ass; GU the wild ass of Persia and Kutch (E
onGGer); 90 the hempippe or wild ass of the
Syrian Desert (E. henuppts); a. the kang or
wild ass OF Tibet (E. te'nionus); % the quaega
Or. q,u9ga). of South Africa; 90 the Burchell's
zebra { T.. B,WchetLD. of Southern and Eastern
Africa; C7) the zebra (E. Zebra. of Southern
Africa. As already stated, these seven animals
all possess the characters of the second sub
genus Aslnus as above given, and no recent
species OF horse refprab!e to the first sub-genus
4 - t,,tI, 70
ea:th's surface, except the descendants OF such
as had been formerly in captivity.
Under the circumstances great interest was
manifested when it was known that PrZevalsky
on his return from his third great journey into
Central Asia. had brought back with him to St
Petersburg an example of a new species of wild
horse. which bcion red. in some OF its characters
at least to true EqlHS. This new animal was
described in 1881. in Russian Journal, by Mr.
j. 5. Poliatow. and dedicated to its discoYerer
as LquuS I3,zerOlshii.
PrZeyalsky's wild horse has warts on its hind
lers as well as on its f6re-le9s and has tread
hoOfS like the true horse. But the long hairs OF
the tail, instead of commencing at the base dc
not begin until about halfway down the tail In
this respect Eq1sus PrzecQtshii is intermediate
between the true horse and the asses 1t also
differs from typical EYuus in having a short
erect name and in having no fOrelCch. that is.
no bunch OF hairs in front of the name falling
down over the forehead. Nor has Przevalsky's
horse any dOrsal stripe. which. although by no
means universal. is often found I'm the typical
horses. and is almost always present in the asses
Its whole general color is of whitish gray
paer and whittier beneath. and reddish on the
head. The legs are reddish to the knees. and
thence bachish down to the hoofs. 1t is of
small stature. but the legs are very thick and
strong. and the head is large and heavy. The
ears are smaller than those of the asses
PrZevalsky's wild horse inhabits the great
Dsungarian desert between the Altai and Tian-
schan mountains. where it is called by the Tar
tars 'kertag." and by the Mongols 'Statur"
1t is met with in troops of from five to fifteen
individuals, led by an Old stallion Apparently
the rest of these troops consists Of mares. which
all belong to the single stallion. They are lively
animals, very shy. and with highly developed
organs OF sight hearing. and smelling. They
keep to the widest parts of the desert. and are
very hard to approach. They seem to prefer
especially the saline districts. and to be able to
do long without water.
The pursuit of this wild horse can only be car
ried on in winter. because the hunter must live
In waterieSs districts, and must depend upon
supply OF water from melted snow As may
we'll be believed, such all expedition during
the severest cold of winter into the most remote
part OF the desert must take at least month
During the whole time OF his stay in the Dsun-
garian Desert PrZeyalsky met with only two
nerds or TINS wild horse. In vain he and his
companion fired at these animals. With out
stretched head and uplfted tail the stallion
disappeared like lightning. with the rest of the
herd after him. Przevalsky and his compan-
ions could not keep near them and soon lost
their tracks. On the second occasion they came
upon them from one side. Yet one of the herd
discovered their presence, and they were all
gone in an instant. The single specimen of
PrZeValskys horse subsequently procured is
now in the museum of the Academy of Science
of St Petersburg, and is the only example of
this species in Europe.
They Drove Kim Ea.