ASSES. 273 



south in winter. Vast hordes exist in Tartary, each 

 headed by a chief. They are also numerous in America, 

 having probably been left there by the Spaniards. 



Mr. Bell describes an ass which belonged to his 

 grandfather, who was so swift that matches were made 

 against him by the possessors of the fastest asses which 

 could be found ; but he beat them all, and even followed 

 the hounds, coming up in gallant style at the death of 

 the fox. 



The well-known antipathy between the horse and the 

 as? i? scarcely to be explained, and has been often over- 

 come. Nevertheless, it always more or less exists ; and 

 many instances are on record in which it has caused in- 

 convenience. One of these I can supply, which occurred 

 when I was in Portugal. I started on a donkey to make 

 a drawing of the great aqueduct which supplies Lisbon 

 with its delicious water, and just as I had chosen my 

 position and established myself, my husband rode up 

 on a beautiful and valuable horse, belonging to a friend. 

 He wished to procure some specimens of the neighbour- 

 ing rocks, and not liking to take a borrowed animal 

 among them, he desired my donkey guide to hold his 

 steed as well as mine. The boy obeyed; and Mr. 

 Bowdich soon disappeared among the hollows. For a 

 few minutes the horse stood quietly enough ; but from 

 the beginning he gave very significant glances at the 

 companion forced upon him. At last he worked him- 

 self into a complete passion ; snorted, pranced, reared, 

 tossed his head, dilated his nostrils, and tried to reach 

 the ass with his fore-feet. He was prevented from doing 

 this by the boy, who opposed him with much power 

 and courage. He then tried to turn round and kick the 

 object of his indignation, who was by no means disposed 



