496 



PACHYDERMATA. 



battle and the chase, in the hibours of agricultm-e and of commerce, is 

 of unknown origin. It would seem, he exists in a wild sfaite, only in 

 those places where horses, formerly domesticated, have been left in 

 freedom, as in Tartary and America. In such places they live in 

 troops, conducted and defended by an old male. The importation of 

 horses into the latter country dates only about three hundred years 

 back, and, nevertheless, wild horses exist there in immense numbers. 

 It is asserted that troops consisting of more than ten thousand 

 individuals are occasionally met with. The Horse is distinguished 

 by the uniformity of his colour, and by his tail being ornamented 

 with hair, quite from its origin. 



As intrepid as his master, the horse sees danger only to face it ; 

 but docile as he is courageous, he responds to the slightest touch of 

 the rein that guides him. The horse gives himself entirely up to 

 the service of mankind, understands what is required from him, and, 

 refusing nothing, laboiirs with all his strength, and even dies 

 rather than disobey. 



The Ass lAsinus) is distinguished from the horse by his small 

 size, by his long ears, by the black cross over his shoulders, and by 

 the tuft of hair at the end of his tail. Though not so powerful as 

 the horse, he is more patient and quiet, and scarcely less valuable to 

 the peasant. 



Fig. 423.— "WILD ASS. 



The Ass lias been generally classed as a variety of the Horse. 

 Dr. Gray, however, who has been followed by Professor Bell, sepa- 

 rates the Ass, under the generic name of Asinus, leaving the Horse 

 alone to fill the genus Eqiius. 



The Ass, therefore, is not a Horse with a naked tail ; he is no 



