See Sir W. H. Flower’s little book on The Horse (Modern Science Series). The kulan or kiang is rather a wild ass than a wild horse, and the balance of evidence in favour of regarding the Tarpan as in the line of ancestry is greater than Brehm indicates. Flower suggests that Przewalski’s horse, discovered some years ago in Central Asia, and looked upon as a distinct species, may be a hybrid between the kiang and the tarpan.
[Note 26] p. 116.—Ancestors of the cat and the goat.
It is very generally believed that our domestic cat is descended from the sacred Egyptian or Caffre cat (Felis caffra). See St. George Mivart’s monograph on the cat. Similarly, the breeds of domestic goat are often referred to the Pasang or Capra ægagrus, found in Crete, Asia Minor, Persia, &c. See a vivid essay by Buxton in his Short Stalks, entitled “The Father of all the Goats”.
[Note 27] p. 116.—Wild camels.
An interesting note on wild camels in Spain—a strayed herd—is to be found in Wild Spain by Chapman and Buck. St. George Littledale has recently discussed (Proc. Zoological Society, 1894) the question whether the camels of Lob-nor, on the slope of Altyn Tag, are remains of a wild stock or strayed. No wild dromedaries are known, and the same is probably true of camels.
THE FORESTS AND SPORT OF SIBERIA.
See also—
W. Radloff, Aus Sibirien, 2 vols., Leipzig, 1884.
A. Th. von Middendorf, Voyage dans l’extrême Nord et dams l’est de la Sibérie (St. Petersburg, 1848).
[Note 28] p. 123.—The Life of the Forest.