RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS. 243 



legs are stronger, and the hoofs broad and expanded, 

 like those of a horse. In fact, in all these respects it 

 is a horse somewhat modified. 



" The body and barrel, however, of the hinny are 

 flat and narrow, in which it differs from the horse and 

 resembles its mother, the ass. It is clearly evident 

 that these two hybrid animals have followed the male 

 parent in all his external characteristics. 



" In two respects there is, however, a striking de- 

 parture from him. First, in size they both follow the 

 female parent, the mule being in all respects a larger 

 and finer animal than its sire, the ass ; while the hinny 

 is just the reverse, being flat and narrow. In this re- 

 spect the mule is just the reverse of its sire, the ass, 

 while the hinny is just the reverse of its sire, the 

 horse ; while both, also, in this respect (the body and 

 barrel) resemble their female parent." * 



Mr. Orton adds : " The mule brays, while the 

 hinny neighs. The why and wherefore of this is a 

 perfect mystery, until we come to apply the knowl- 

 edge afforded us by the law I have given. The male 

 gives the locomotive organs, and the muscles are 

 among these ; the muscles are the organs which modu- 

 late the voice of the animal ; the mule has the muscu- 

 lar structures of its sire, the ass ; the hinny has the 

 muscular structures of its sire, the horse ; the organs 

 of voice in the former are those of its sire, the ass, 

 hence it brays ; the organs of voice of the latter are 

 those of its sire, the horse, hence it neighs." a 



1 Quoted from the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, 1857- 

 '59, p. 21. 



8 Journal of tJie Highland Agricultural Society, 1857-'69, p. 22. 



