OT the real H^ild Jfs. 73 



plTes of Mefopotan-iia, when hunted, ili^pped fomctimes as if 

 to take a nearer view of their purfiier?, and then fpriing for- 

 ward again with fuch velocity, that the bcft horfes could not 

 overtake them. All the antient authors extol their fpeed in 

 running; and their Hebrew name, par^J, is derived troni 

 this property. As they are fond of feeding on the cold rocky 

 hills and niountains, nature has endowed them with the 

 power of aoiiig with the greatetl velocity over the roughelt 

 ground a:id along the n^rrowelt path^ ; and this property 

 has even remained with the common lluggifli afs, and from 

 it has been tranfmitted to the mu.e. The fliape of the ani- 

 mal fcems as if deltined for this purpofe; the body being 

 very flender, while the feet ftand near to each other, and the 

 fmall round hoofs, which arc exceedingly hard, are fliarp on 

 the edges. 



As the wild afs frequents the dry fouthern dirtric^ts, anj 

 never wanders fo fiir north as the wild horfe, herds of which 

 are found under the 56th degree of latitude, the tame afs 

 does not thrive fo well in the damp northern diRrifts as the 

 horfe; and this, together with want of care, exceffive labour, 

 and bad nourilliment, may have occafioned the degeneration 

 of the common afs, and brought this breed into dilbredit. 

 But who judge of the noble breed of our bcil horfes from the 

 wretched anmials in the poorer diltricls, which are fcarccly 

 fo good as aires ? With proper care and management, might 

 not as good riding afles be i)rcd in ihe temperate and louthern 

 pans of Europe, as in the Eaft ? and might not the breed of 

 this aiiimal be gradually improved as we have improved the 

 horfe, the wild"breed of which are far inferior in fi/e and 

 beauty ? In regard to the vicioufnefs of the afs, and par, 

 ticulaVly its obuinacy, which is inherited by the mule, it 

 appears to me very probable that this is owing to the too 

 wide conformation and fenhbility of the organs of hearing 

 which natuie lias bellowed on the wild race, which, being 

 delUned to live in extenfive defert<, have heed of being able 

 to difcover dar.ger at a greater diltauce. The noife which 

 the afs niuil htar in the neighbourhot)d of men cvidcjiliy 

 ituns it; and, on that account, it is cultomary in England to 

 crop the ears of the ailes employed at mills, bccauie it is 

 known that by thefe means thev become inueh more tracK 

 able and obedient. Means might ealily be difcovcred of 

 weakeninjj; their hearing, and aecomphlhing the fame end, 

 without fuel) a mutiLung operation. 



By improving the breed of alles, which, after the example 

 of ilie anlienls, might be done foonelt, and in the mod cnn;- 

 i)!ete manner, by introducinc'; riding aflls 'rom the Levant^ 



