Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 2 (1876).djvu/169

Rh broke up into smaller troops, and dispersed in different directions.

Each lot of mares is led by a stallion, the size of whose family depends on his age, strength, and courage; his individual qualities keeping his harem together. Old and experienced stallions have as many as fifty wives, whilst the younger are obliged to content themselves with five or ten. Young or unfortunate bachelors roam about alone, casting envious glances from a distance at their older or happier rivals, by whom again they are always regarded with suspicion, and never allowed to approach the harems. Should one of these stallions notice another approaching too near his troop, he rushes to the encounter and tries in every way by kicking and biting to drive him off. Fights frequently occur during the rutting season, which we were told by the Mongols is the month of September. The males are very jealous and combative at this season, and sometimes go out of their way to seek an antagonist. The young are born in May; but often die before attaining maturity; and in the largest herds we saw but a few foals, which never seemed to leave their mother's side.

The kulan's sight and hearing are excellent. It is difficult to kill him on level ground. The best way is to walk boldly up to the troop, which you may do to within 500, or sometimes, though rarely, 400 paces, but even at this distance you cannot be certain of your aim, and should you not hit him in a vital part he will not fall. It is useless attempting