20 THOSE OTHER ANIMALS. 



fails to recognise the characteristics of one of the most worthy 

 of animals, than on that of the donkey himself ; for it may 

 be doubted whether any individual of the animal creation 

 possesses so many virtues as he does. He is strong, hardy, 

 patient, laborious, and, in his wild state, fleet and brave. 

 He can live on the most meagre provender ; he can stand 

 all climates. He is a willing servant, and does not despise 

 humble work. He is affectionate whenever he gets a chance 

 of being so, and is one of the most intelligent of animals. 

 The horse is more showy, but in proportion to the amount 

 of food he consumes, and to his weight and size, he is less 

 strong than the donkey ; he is undoubtedly less intelligent, 

 and, in spite of his size, he is no fleeter. The wild ass 

 can leave the horse behind him ; can climb precipices 

 inaccessible to his rival, can go fearlessly along mountain 

 paths where the horse would not dare to tread, and is in no 

 way inferior in courage. Well groomed and cared for, his 

 coat is almost as sleek and glossy : while he is free from the 

 various vices that so often mar the usefulness of the horse. 

 When living under similar conditions, the horse recog- 

 nises at once the superior sagacity of the ass. On the 

 great ranches of the Western States of America donkeys are 

 frequently turned out with droves of horses, and in such 

 cases the donkey is always accepted as the leader, and the 

 horses gather round him, or follow his footsteps with 

 implicit confidence. The wild stallion on the plains is 

 a very formidable animal, and is more than a match for 

 man himself when unprovided with firearms; but the ass 

 has no fear of it, and the testimony of the plains' men 

 is unanimous that in a combat between them the jack 

 is likely to come out the victor. In such cases the donkey 



