THE ASSES 



IIOI 



liowever, of any instances where these animals have reverted to a semiwild condi- 

 tion. In Europe, the largest and finest breeds are produced in the more southern 

 countries, such as Spain, Italy, and Malta; but there are others of still finer propor- 

 tions in the United States, where they reach a height of fifteen or sixteen hands. 

 These larger races are mainly kept for the purposes of mule breeding, and show that 

 the small size of the ordinary form is due in great part to the rough treatment and 



DOMESTIC ASS. 



bad food which is usually its share. In England the ass was known in the reign of 

 Ethelred, when it fetched the then high price of three dollars; but it has been con- 

 sidered that it subsequently became extinct, and was reintroduced about the time of 

 Queen Elizabeth; and it is certain that it did not become common till after the 

 reign of the latter. 



The ass is valued not only as a beast of burden and draught, but likewise on 

 account of its milk, and it is stated that in one district of Equatorial Africa large 



