Book VII. 



THE ASS. 



951 



6088. The excellencies and defects of the common ass liave amply engaged the lively 

 pens of several descriptive writers on the history of animals ; and of none with more 

 happy effect than those of the eloquent Buffon, and the ingenious Abb6 la Pluche. 

 The ass, in his natural temper, is humble, patient, and quiet, and bears correction with 

 firmness. He is extremely hardy, both with regard to the quantity and quality of his 

 food, contenting himself with the most harsh and disagreeable herbs, which other animals 

 will scarcely touch. In the choice of water he is, however, very nice ; drinking only of 

 that which is perfectly clear, and at brooks with which he is acquainted. He is very 

 serviceable to many persons who are not able to buy or keep horses ; especially where 

 they live near heaths or commons, the barrenest of which will keep him ; being contented 

 with any kind of coarse herbage, such as dry leaves, stalks, thistles, briers, chaff, and any 

 sort of straw. He requires very little looking after, and sustains labor beyond 



most others. He is seldom or never sick ; and endures hunger and thirst longer than 

 most other kinds of animals. The ass may be made use of in husbandry to plough light 

 lands, to carry burdens, to draw in mills, to fetch water, cut chaff, or any other similar 

 purposes. The female (^g. 636.) is also 636 



useful in many cases for her milk, which 

 is excellent; and she might be of more 

 advantage to the farmer if used, as in 

 foreign countries, for the purpose of 

 breeding of mules. The skin of the ass 

 is extremely hard, and very elastic, and 

 is used for various purposes ; such as to 

 cover drums, make shoes, or parchment. 

 It is of the skin of this animal that the 

 Orientals make the fagri, or, as we call 

 it, shagreen. The milk of the ass is the lightest of all milis, and is recommended by 

 medical men, to persons of delicate stomachs ; the flesh, and the hair of the tail and 

 mane, are used as those of the horse. 



6089. The ass attains his full growth in three or four years, and may then be put to work. Like the 

 horse he will live to 25 or 30 years ; it is said the female lives longer than the male ; but, perhaps, this hap- 

 pens from their being often pregnant, and at those times having some care taken of them, instead of which 

 the males are constantly worn out with fatigue and blows. They sleep less than the horse, and do not lie 

 down to sleep, except when they are exceedingly tired. The male ass also lasts much longer than the stal- 

 lion ; the older he is, the more ardent he appears ; and, in general, the health of this animal is much bet- 

 ter than that of the horse ; he is less delicate, and not nearly so subject to maladies. Ophthalmia, which 

 may be reckoned among the indigent of the cultivated horse, is almost unknown to the ass. Contraction 

 of the feet also, is very seldom observed in him. 



6090. The different breeds or races of the ass are much less known than those of the horse, because in 

 this country they have not been taken the same care of, or followed with the same attention. Travellers 

 inform us, that there are two sorts of asses in Persia, one of which, being slow and heavy, is used for bur- 



,dens; and the other is kept like horses for the 

 saddle. The latter have [smooth hair, carry their 

 heads well, and are much quicker in their motion ; 

 but when they ride them they sit nearer the but- 

 tocks than when on horseback. They are dressed 

 like horses, and like them are taught to amble ; 

 and they cleave their nostrils to give them more 

 room for breathing. According to Dr. Russell, 

 there are two sorts in Syria, one of which are like 

 rjours, and the other very large, with remarkably long 

 ears ; but both kinds are employed for the purpose 

 of carrying burdens, and sedan chairs, (fig. 637.) 

 6091. In breeding from the ass, the same general 

 rules should be attended to as in the horse breeding. The male ass will procreate at the age of two 

 and a half years, and the female still earlier. The stallion ass should be chosen from the largest and 

 strongest of his species ; he must at least be three years old, but should not exceed ten ; his legs 

 should be long, his body plump, head long and light, eyes brisk, nostrils and chest large, neck long, 

 loins fleshy, ribs broad, rump flat, tail short, hair shining, soft to the touch, and of a deep grey. 

 Those are reckoned the best shaped that are well squared, have large eyes, wide nostrils, long necks, 

 broad breasts, high shoulders, a great back, short tail, the hair sleek, and of a blackish color. 



6092. The best time of covering is from the latter end of May to the beginning of June, nor must the 

 female be hard worked whilst with foal, for fear of casting ; but the more the male is worked, in moder- 

 ation, the better he will thrive. She brings forth her foal in about a twelvemonth, but, to preserve a 

 good breed, she should not produce more than one in two years. She should be covered between the 

 months of March and June. The best age to breed at is from three years old to ten. When the foal is cast, 

 it is proper to let it run a year with the dam, and then wean it by tying up and giving it grass, and some- 

 times milk ; and,when it has forgot the teat, it should be turned out into a pasture ; but, if it be in winter, 

 it must then be fed at times, till it be able to shift for itself. 



6093. The ass may he broken and trained at the end of the second year ; but should 

 not be worked sooner than the third year. Breaking is easily effected when two years 

 old, or it may be let alone still longer, as till three years. It is easily done by laying 

 small weights on his back, and increasing them by degrees;^ then set a boy upon him, 

 and so increase the weights as may be proper, till they are sufficiently heavy. 



6094. The age of the as^ is known by his teeth in the same manner as the horse. At 

 two years and a half old, the first middle incisive teeth fall out, and the other on each 

 side soon follow ; they are renewed at the same time, and in the same order. 



6095. The anatomy and jthysiology of the ass do not differ from those of the horse i 



' 3 P 4 



