THE ASS. 443 



when varnished over in a peculiar manner, is cut 

 into leaves for pocket-books. The inhabitants of 

 some of the eastern countries, make of that part 

 which is about the rump, what they call sagri or 

 shagreen. The flesh of the Wild Ass is considered 

 in Tartary to be as excellent food as that of the 

 Boar; but, although the flesh of the domestic ani- 

 mals is eaten in several countries of the world, 

 M. de Buffon asserts that it is extremely bad, and 

 harder than that of the Horse. The milk is light, 

 easy of digestion, and so highly nutritious as to be 

 recommended as a specific in many disorders. In 

 some parts of the continent, it is occasionally used 

 as a cosmetic. 



The male of this species is, in Wales, called asyn; 

 the female, ascn: in France, ane and anesse: in 

 Italy, asino or miccio, and miccia : in Spain, asno or 

 borrico, and borrica: in Portugal, asno or burro, 

 and asna or burra: in Germany, the male and fe- 

 male are both called esel: in Holland, eezel: in 

 Sweden, asna or aesna : in Denmark, asen-escl; in 

 Russia, osel. 



THE 



