DOMESTIC AND SEMI-DOMESTIC ANIMALS 25 



The photographs depict several interesting examples of Asses 

 such as the Spanish Domestic Ass (Fig. 14), the Spanish and 

 English Domestic Asses for comparison of size (Fig. 15), a Hybrid 

 Zebra and Pony (Fig. 16) in which the stripes on the legs are 

 plainly to be seen, and a Hybrid Somali and Domestic Ass (Fig 17). 



The Wild Ass has been domesticated since a very remote period 

 in the world's history, and whilst to-day it is difficult to locate the 

 pure wild animal of the unfettered fastness, there are several places 

 where the fleet-footed wild beast is still found. The Asiatic repre- 

 sentatives of the Wild Ass (Equus hemionus) are the Kiang, or 

 Kulan, of Tibet and Mongolia, the Ghorkhar, or Onager, of Western 

 India and Baluchistan ; a third variety inhabits Syria and Persia, 

 whilst in Africa the Wild Ass (Equus asinus) ranges through 

 Abyssinia, Somaliland and various parts of the Sudan. 



It appears to be generally recognized that the Domestic Donkey 

 is a near descendant of the African W T ild Ass, being, as a matter of 

 fact, the African species domesticated. Doubtless it was first tamed 

 to be of service to mankind hard by the River Nile, and as its useful- 

 ness was made manifest and appreciated and civilization advanced, 

 the habits of the beast rapidly became known in other Eastern 

 countries. With the civilizing influence that came about as a result 

 of the discovery of the Western passage, the fame of the Donkey 

 as a beast of burden became still better known. It spread rapidly 

 throughout the countries adjacent, and yet it seems to have taken 

 quite a long time before it was introduced into Europe. In our own 

 land its introduction was indeed fairly recent. That it did not for 

 some time find favour here is evidenced by the comparatively low 

 price at which the animal was valued, and it was not until the 

 remarkable Elizabethan era that its true worth was recognized and 

 its obstinacy tolerated. 



Although, as perhaps the reader may be aware, the ordinary 

 Domestic Donkey which one meets with at the seaside is character- 

 ized by its unwillingness to traverse a single step farther than is 

 necessary, and the general obstinacy which it exhibits, there can 

 be little doubt that this trait in its character is largely due to the 

 ill-treatment it receives. This is more apparent when one becomes 

 intimate with other individuals whose claims to be treated kindly 

 and humanely are recognized, and who are well and properly fed 

 and housed, for it is seen that such treatment results in good- 

 tempered and willing servants being forthcoming, and it is always 



