THE DONKEY. 21 



is well aware that he is no match for the stallion with his 

 heels, but fights with his teeth, and the combat resembles 

 that between a well-trained dog and a bull. The jackass 

 will rush at his opponent, and, skilfully dodging the blows 

 from its fore legs, will leap at its throat, and, having once 

 caught hold, his grip cannot be shaken off. In vain will 

 the stallion strike at him, in vain lift him in the air and hurl 

 him down again, for the jack, with his legs well apart, will 

 always come down on his feet. In vain will the horse 

 throw itself down and roll with its opponent. The jack 

 will hold on until the horse succumbs to his grip, or the 

 flesh he has seized comes away in his hold. 



Seeing his utility to man, his willingness to give all his 

 strength for so slight a return, his patience under hardship, 

 starvation, and cold, it is wonderful that the ass is not more 

 highly appreciated, and that he does not occupy a far higher 

 place than he does in our regard. In one respect only has 

 the ass a weak side. If, as the philosopher says, silence is 

 golden in the case of man, it is still more so in the case 

 of the ass. The donkey prides himself, not upon his many 

 and sterling virtues, but upon what others consider to be 

 his greatest failing. Unfortunately, like many human 

 beings, he entertains an altogether mistaken idea as to 

 his vocal powers, which he never loses an opportunity of 

 exhibiting. Other animals use the voice for the purpose of 

 expressing their emotions. The dog's bark expresses joy, 

 watchfulness, or menace ; his growl, anger ; his whine, im- 

 patience or discontent. The horse is naturally silent, but 

 his neigh is indicative sometimes of welcome, sometimes 

 of impatience. Love is the burden of the bird's song. 

 Maternal solicitude, or a desire for food, that of the baa of 



