SECRETARY'S REPORT. 93 



law. The examples adduced are chiefly from the former. The 

 mule is the progeny of the male ass and the mare ; the hinny, that 

 of the horse and the she ass. Both hybrids are the produce of the 

 same set of animals. They differ widely, however, in their re- 

 spective characters — the mule in all that relates to its external 

 characters having the distinctive features of the ass, — the hinny, in 

 the same respects having all the distinctive features of the horse ; 

 while in all that relates to the internal organs and vital qualities, 

 the mule partakes of the character of the horse, and the hinny of 

 those of the ass. Mr. Orton says — " The mule, the produce of the 

 male ass and mare, is essentially a modified ass: the ears are those 

 of an ass somewhat shortened ; the mane is that of the ass, erect ; 

 the tail is that of an ass ; the skin and color are those of an ass 

 somewhat modified ; the legs are slender and the hoofs high, narrow 

 and contracted, like those of an ass. In fact, in all these respects 

 it is an ass somewhat modified. The body and barrel (however) of 

 the mule are round and full, in which it differs from the ass and 

 resembles the mare. 



The hinny, on the other hand, the produce of the stallion and 

 she ass, is" essentially a modified horse. The ears are those of a 

 horse somewhat lengthened-; the mane flowing ; the tail bushy, like 

 that of the horse ; the skin is finer, like that of the horse, and the 

 color varies also, like the horse ; the legs are stronger and the 

 hoofs broad and expanded like those of the horse. In fact, in all 

 these respects it is a horse somewhat modified. The body and 

 barrel (however) of the hinny are flat and narrow, in which it dif- 

 fers from the horse and resembles the she ass. 



A very curious circumstance pertains to the voice of the mule 

 and the hinny. The mule brays, the hinny neighs. The why and 

 wherefore of this is a perfect mystery until we come to apply the 

 knowledge afforded us by the law before given. The male gives 

 the locomotive organs, and the muscles are amongst these ; the 

 muscles are the organs which modulate the voice of the animal ; 

 the mule has the muscular structure of its sire, and brays ; the 

 hinny has the muscular structure of its sire, and neighs." 



In connexion with these examples Mr. Orton refers to a special 

 feature seen equally in the two instances, and which seems at first 

 sight, a departure from the principle laid down by him. It is this, 

 both hybrids, the mule and the hinny take after the male parents 

 in all their external characters save one, which is size. In this 



