44 



BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



jennet. This animal is descended from the wild ass of 

 Africa and Asia. There are several breeds of the domestic 

 ass, most of which were introduced to America from Spain. 

 During the Revolutionary War, George Washington was pre- 

 sented with a male and female ass by the King of Spain. 

 The jack usually stands about 15 hands high, and the 

 jennets 14 J/. The hair is usually brown or black with 

 a creamy shade around the muzzle or along the underside of 

 the body. The ass has long, large ears, rather a large head 



Fig. 21. A donkey and load of peat in Ireland. Photograph by the author. 



for the body, a short, stubby mane, a round but not very 

 large body, rather large legs, and small feet. The tail is 

 fine, with simply a brush at the end. This animal is slow 

 of movement, very patient, and is a beast of burden 

 used mostly among poor people of southern Europe and parts 

 of Africa and Asia. In America it is but little used except- 

 ing for breeding. 



The Mule is the offspring of an ass and mare. Mules 

 differ much in size and value, and have features of both 



