THE DOMESTIC ASS. 315 



cliiefly derived from the first mentioned, the marks 

 on the shoulders and the common bluish ashy fur 

 being taken as indications of the inference. All 

 the races of the species are most distinguished by 

 their profound degradation, heavy dull aspect, thick, 

 slouching, long ears, and stiff walk. They are 

 patient and laborious, slow and obstinate ; mankind 

 thinking every where that no care or kindness is 

 due to them in return for services ; no wonder they 

 are both slow and vicious. It is a mistake to be- 

 lieve in their unlimited resignation to indignity; 

 when offended, they give warning by drawing back 

 the lips and showing the teeth ; an insult is repelled 

 by a kick, but a more grievous injury by biting ; 

 and when roused by danger, asses will fight with 

 skill and obstinacy. In distress they bray with an 

 accent of despair ; and we have personally wit- 

 nessed, on an occasion of grievous torment inflicted 

 upon one by inhuman schoolboys, the animal, after 

 proclaiming his sufferings, attack and route his 

 enemies with the energy of a lion. Though the 

 species is libidinous, it is also sober, and of such 

 strength, that no domestic animal, in proportion to 

 its bulk, can carry a greater weight, or continue to 

 labour longer without sustenance. The ass is em- 

 phatically the poor man's horse in every country ; 

 and if care were taken of the breed, and well se- 

 lected animals imported from Arabia, perhaps from 

 tlie province of Oman, or of those of the white breed 

 of Zobeir near Bussorah, there is no doubt that in 

 the sandy districts of Northern Australia, a very 



