The Washington times., 1901-10-06
wild Horse. In A.I.

Both the Colonel and Eph had run
away.-New York Times.
|
wild Horses In Asia.
Iih twenty years ago the tarpan, the
| so-calIed wild horse of the steppes, de-
scrioed by Pallas. was regarded by some
Continental biologists as the last survivor
OF the species to which the wild horse of
Europe of the Neolthic period belonged
Other authorities preferred to consider the
horses OF the Steppes as feraI rather than
truly wild-the descendants of domesti-
Gated animals which had escaped from
captivity. Whichever view is correct.
/ there can be no doubt that the herds of
horses which formerly ranger from Cen
tral Asia westward to the Dnieper have
In some way been modified by an infusion
OF dornesticated blood. to which, Mr. Ly-
oekher suggests, the uniform dun color
| may possibly be due
IN 1881 the Russian naturalist Poiiakon
announced that Colonel PrejevaIsky had
discovered distinct species of wild horse.
which has since been known as "Prejev1i-
sky's horse" The species was founded on
skin sent to the distinguished Russian
explorer by the magistrate of the district
of Zaisan, who obtained 1t from some na-
tive hunters. The skin was mounted, and
is now IN the museum of the Imperial
Academy of Sciences at ST. Petersburg.
1t was said to be intermediate between
the equine and asinine group. having cal
losities. or chesnuts," on the hind limbs.
as well as on the fore limbs. like a true
horse, while, according to Prejevalsxy.
the upper part of the tail is shaggy Qike
that of a horse). and the lower half Qike
that of an ass covered with long. fine
hair. The ears are smaller than those of
the ass, the name IS dark brown in color.
snort and hogged, but there is no fore
lock.
Prejevalsky, In his three journeys to
Central Asia, met with but two herds of
these horses He described the color of
the body as whitish-grey, fading to white
on the lower part of the barrel the head
reddish and the muzzie white: the legs
as remarkably thick. whitish on the up
per half of the forelegs, which are red
dish at the knees. deepening to black at
the hoofs, and the hind legs whitish
These animals frequent the most desolate
parts OF the country, end especially the
salt Steppes. and are able to subsist with
out water far a long period. They are
hunted in the winter and the hunters have
to depend on the snowfall for their own
water supply. The herds consist of from
IL
The first herd Prejevalsky saw he was
able to approach within range. He fired.
as did his companion. but the only result
was to alarm the animals, and away went
the leader. head down and tail flying,
followed by the rest of the herd. He was
even less fortunate with the second herd.
for before he could get near enough to
fire. with any prospect of success. the
animals became aware of his presence
and were off like the wind.
Some years later the Brothers Griji-
mailo obtained four skins. three skulls,
and a skeleton in the desert of Zungaria,
where they had an opportunity OF study
ing this animal and watching its habits,
and they accepted Poliakoff's 5 description
of the animal as a new species. Sir Will
liam Flower, however, suspended judg-
ment on the matter and said that until
more specimens had been obtained It was
difficult to form an opinion as to the va
lidity of the species or to resist the sus-
picion that it might not turn out to be an
accidental hybrid between the kiang, the
wild ass of the elevated plateaus of Tibet.
and the hoise. Quite recently a speci-
men was acquired for the Museum of the
Jariin des Plantes at Paris. and In COM
municating this fact to the Geological So
ed that, in his opinion. the animal was
closely related to the stock whence the
domestic horse was derived
Now from Hamburg comes the news
that whole herd-seventeen stations and
fifteen mares-has been captured by coll
leetors sent out by Herr Carl Hagenbeck,
the weil-known dealer in wild animals,
and is on the way to that city. where the
animals will arrive in November. All of
them are foals, AND each has nurse in
the shape of common Kirghaizia mare.
Some idea OF the difficulty attending their
capture may be gathered from the fact
that nearly 1000 natives were engaged to
help the European collectors. When the
herd arrives in Hamburg doubt there
viii be keen competition for specimens
for the principal geological collections,
and il is pretty certain that some will
,ome to England. so that definite pro-
as to the true character Of
.Prejevalsky's horse is now near at
land That 1t belongs to the equine rath-
It than to the asinine section of the genus
',quus is shown by the chestnuts on all
he limbs and the characters Of the skull.
1t remains to be seen whether Polia-
lof's description really holds good or
a sther the animal is variety of feral
ace of the domestic horse. There will be-
'lenty of material for examination. The
,reeding experiments which. 1t is said,
Ierr Carl Hagenbeck will carry out in
hamburg in mating his captures with the
omesticated horse will probably be re-
Gated elsewhere. and the results will be
f the highest importance in settling this
uestion when the fertility or steriIity. as
he case may be. of the progeny Is estab-
shed.-Loudon Standard