The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-14

The iong-debated question as to
the origin OF the horse IL likely to re-
ceive fresh impetus from the discov-
cries Just made in Central Asia by NJ.
Grum- Grzimailo. This gentleman
was dispatched but two years ago on
an expedition Of exploration to the
spurs Of the Boro- Khoro mountains.
Among other interesting regions
which his party visited-and In all he
traversed about 1900 miles Of un-
mapped country-was Central Djun-
garia. Prjevalsky killed, some years
ago, the remarkable horse to which
the late NJ. Polyakoff applied the
name OF that famous traveller. This
brute was found roaming the deserts
between the Altai and Tian-Shan
mountains, but careered across its ma
tive wilds with such swiftness that it
was impossible to overtake it on any
ordinary steed. Accordingly, the
specimen which Colonel Prjevalsky
brought to Russ has, until the ex-
petition Of NJ. Grum- Grzimailo, re-
manned unique in our museums.
The latest visitor to Djungaria has,
however, had the good fortune to see
many others, and to kill four of these
animals, all possessing the peculiar
characteristics which distinguished
the one first obtained. The most re-
markable Of these are the absence OF a
forelock and the presence of short,
erect hog" name, while the long
hairs Of the tail do not begin until
about halfway down that prolonga-
ton at the backbone. The result is
that the Equus Prjevalskii is not an
elegant beast, its beauty not being en-
HANGED by its thick legs, small statue
and large, heavy head.
When Colonel Prjevalsky's speci-
men was first made known to natural
lists, there was widespread belief
that, not improbably, It was simply
an animal which had escaped from:
civilization. Considering tho endless
varieties into which the domestic
horse has broken up during the many
years OF its civilization, this conclu-
sion was not unreasonable. Nor, OF
course, IL 1t even yet beyond the pos
sihility Of being maintained.
Yet, in the face Of the circumstances
evidently on the same species, skepti-
cism Is no longer tenable as to the
fact that they are either veritable
wild horses, the ancestors Of which
were never subjected to the bridle+-or
the descendants OF animals which
have discarded servitude 80 long ago
that 1t Is difficult to express any opin-
ion as to the period when they took to
life Of liberty. In any case the dis
coyery Is SO remarkable one that 1t
deserves, as 1t will no doubt obtain,
the fullest recognition.
tits certainly the nearest approach
to an actual wild horse with which
we are acquainted. Numbers Of wild
horses have, no doubt, been described.
But, with scarcely an exception, all Of
them can be readily traced to escapes
from the farmyard. The ''tarpan,
or wild horse Of Southern Russia
though 1t avoids Central Asia, absent
ing itself from the country north Of
the Cobb, where the wild ass is found
has, by some theorists, been regarded
as true native Of the Steppes. But
this opinion is not generally held,
"the thousand horse, the wild and
free," which now, as in Mazeppa's
days, is encountered In the thinly-
peopled prairies, being almost uni
versally regarded as an animal once
domesticated, but which has relapsed
into a feral state. At all events, 1t
is unlike those Of Djungaria.
The wild horses Of South America,
however, admit Of no doubt as to their
origin. All the animals now ridden
and driven In that continent trace
their descent to those which crossed
the Atlantic, either with the conquer
ors or with the more peaceful settlers
who succeeded them. Yet in the
course Of less than four centuries they
have increased 30 enormously that in
Uruguay and other parts Of the
Pampa region their progeny, now to
all appearances quite wild, have be-
come public nuisance.
Azara, an old Spanish naturalist, af-
firms that all the "cimmarones" or
wild horses Of the Argentine Re-
public, at the time he wrote, were the
descendants Of some half a dozen
which were left to their own resources
when the town Of Buenos Ayres was
temporarily abandoned, about the
year 1886. Most of them are not
worth tanning, though the Indians
occasionally manage to do SO.
Barely century has passed since
the horse was introduced into Aus
tralia. Yet already the "brumbles, "
or wild horses, are becoming such a
pest that they must be exterminated,
like vermin, to prevent them being a
scourge to the pastures. In some
parts Of the country they are shot
down by mon hired for the purpose,
the "mobs" being collected from the
rugged hilly region which they affect.
In the course Of few generations this
wild horse has developed habits and
characteristics different from his
European ancestor. He Is always de-
generating, always becoming smaller,
weaker and wilder. but every year
more active and why. his iron hoofs
enabling him to scramble over rocks
and gallop down declivities which no
domesticated horse would face. st.
Petersburg Cor. Philadelphia Times.
She DIdn't Know.
Little Girl docking over adyertis-