206 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



Photo b, W. R,id 



EGYPTIAN DONKEYS 



towards a definite end large size, accom- 

 panied by great physical strength and powers 

 of endurance. To accomplish this, speed has 

 had to be sacrificed. 



ASSES AND MULES 

 ASSES 



THE DOMESTIC Ass, so common to-day 

 in these islands, is of African origin, and 

 has, moreover, departed but little in either 

 form or colour from the wild race. This is 

 probably due to the fact that the ass has 

 not been subjected in this country to that 

 process of rigorous and careful selection that 

 the horse has undergone. 



We have no record of its first intro- 

 duction to England, but it was certainly 

 known in the reign of Ethelred, though it 

 was a rare animal. Later it appears to 

 have died out, and to have been reintroduced 

 in the reign of Elizabeth ; but it has never 

 become popular. This is unfortunate; its 

 sterling qualities have never been really 

 appreciated there. Spain, Italy, and Malta 

 have all succeeded in raising some fine breeds. 

 The United States has, however, produced 

 the finest of all in animals standing some 

 15 or 1 6 hands (5 feet or 5 feet 4 inches) 



The an has long been kno-wn to the Egyptians, having been in use by high. 

 them before the introduction of the horse 



MULES 



The term MULE, strictly speaking, should be reserved for the offspring of the male ass and 

 the mare : the offspring of the opposite cross is called the HlNNY. Mules are valued on account 

 of their great powers of endurance and their sure-footedness. The finest and handsomest are 

 bred in Spain, the United 

 States, and North-west India. 



It is interesting to note 

 that mules exhibit a strong 

 tendency to revert to the 

 dun-coloured and striped col- 

 oration believed to belong to 

 the primitive horses. The spi- 

 nal and shoulder stripes which 

 sometimes appear in horses, 

 and more frequently in asses, 

 occur yet more frequently in 

 mules. The legs of the mules 

 appear particularly liable to 

 revert to this striped colora- 

 tion in the United States, it 



Phut by C. Riid] 



is said nine out of ten being 

 so marked. 



