DOMESTICATED VARIETIES 477 



its swiftness, and for more slender build than that of those 

 already mentioned, also differs in having shorter and less 

 sharply pointed ears. The diminutive size of the common 

 British and Irish donkey is due to two main causes : (a) the 

 want of attention in breeding, and (&) the coldness of the 

 climate, which, through generations of neglect, has been per- 

 mitted to exercise its full influence. 



In countries where the ass is held in high favour for 

 example, in Syria, Arabia, Upper Egypt, Spain, and in the 

 United States where it was introduced by General Washing- 

 ton it is represented by animals of special excellence and 

 value. In America there is a great impetus given to breed- 

 ing donkeys, by the trying nature of the climate for horses. 

 In Kentucky, Missouri, and New Orleans, where great 

 attention is paid to the breed, not purely on account of its 

 own value as such, but for the rearing of mules, the size of 

 animals bred from the best imported stock frequently reaches 

 15.2 and 1 6 hands. 



Of all the imported varieties (say Tegetmeier and Suther- 

 land), " the Catalonian is the finest type of animal, being a 

 good black, with white or mealy points, of fine style and 

 action, and from 14^ to 15 hands high, rarely 16 hands, 

 with a clean bone. It was from this breed the Kentucky 

 Jackass sprang early last century. The Andalusian is about 

 the same type, having a little more weight and bone, but 

 they are all off-colours. The Maltese is smaller than the 

 Catalonian, rarely being over 14^ hands high, but nice and 

 smooth, refined and thoroughbred in appearance. The 

 Majorcan is the largest of the imported jacks, the heaviest 

 in weight, bone, head, and ears, with the exception of the 

 French Poitou, frequently growing to 16 hands, but lacking 

 in style, finish, and action. The Italian is the smallest of 

 all, being usually from 13 to 14 hands, with good feet, bone, 

 and weight." The Poitou, a brown ass, the last imported 

 into the States, is said to have sprung from Spanish stock, 

 although the difference in structure and character is now 

 great ; even the loud and sonorous voice is quite different 

 from that of the other breeds. The Poitou Ass corresponds 

 to the heaviest of our heavy breeds of cart-horses. His 

 limbs are very large and massive, but the bones usually 

 good and flat, measuring from 8| to 9 inches below the 



