80 HORSES AND ROADS. 



ally to a suitable length and shape. In Ireland 

 donkeys are worked unshod in draught and over 

 macadamised roads, even over loose broken stone ; 

 and Mayhew gives an illustration showing a 

 donkey's overgrown toe turned upward like a half 

 moon from the want of care in keeping it rasped 

 back. 



Only last December a correspondent in a con- 

 temporary referred to this same illustration and to 

 these donkeys. He says that lately, when he was 

 in Ireland, he saw the donkeys being worked unshod ; 

 and not only had the hoof not been worn away, but, 

 on the contrary, it had outgrown the wear and tear 

 of work, the toe having become turned up, and 

 requiring shortening exactly (as he says) as shown 

 in Mayhew's ilustration. He says : ' Certainly 

 the roads in that part of Ireland are calculated 

 to cause the greatest amount of wear and tear.' 

 In other countries the toe is kept trimmed, and 

 this is necessary for the comfort of the animals. 

 Yet the laziness of the Irish owners in leaving 

 the superfluous horn affords a convincing proof 

 that the toe will outgrow all demands upon it, 

 even on roads that 'are certainly calculated to cause 

 the greatest amount of wear and tear.' 



What further proof can be needed that Nature 

 has fully provided for every part of the hoof ? A 

 protection of iron, even in its most mitigated form, 

 is only a mistake. Some may say that this is 

 all very well for the donkey, but that it is quite 

 another affair with the horse ; and this remark was 



