ASP HA L T PA VI NG — ASS 



In Sumatra is raised the Battak pony, which is about 

 12.2 hands high as a rule. The head is very well shaped, 

 the neck high-crested, and the colour brown or skewbald. 

 They are high mettled, plucky workers, and are remarkable 

 for their sure-footedness, but they are not successful as 

 geldings. 



The Corean ponies are very small, being only about 9 

 hands high ; in appearance they resemble the Iceland pony, 

 and are very hard workers. (See also Arab and Prejevalskys 

 Horse.) 



Asphalt Paving" is the worst form of flooring for 

 stabling of any sort, or for passages, yards, or roads over which 

 horses may have to pass, as whatever may be its recommenda- 

 tions in other respects, it affords no foothold, and is therefore 

 liable to cause serious accidents should the animals slip. (See 

 Floors.) 



Ass. — Of the ordinary domestic ass there is little that 

 needs to be written, as he is ever with us, and his peculiarities 

 are pretty generally known. At the same time surprise may 

 be expressed that the humble donkey has not been more 

 cultivated in this country than he has been, as his capacity 

 for work, robust constitution, longevity, and general utility 

 render him a very valuable animal for working purposes. 

 Moreover, the ass is unquestionably a member of the great 

 equine family, which includes amongst its members the horse, 

 wild asses in their several varieties, zebras of different types, 

 and quaggas. The ass, however, differs from the horse in 

 several respects besides appearance, such as voice, the absence 

 of castors or chestnuts on his legs, the number of his loin 

 vertebrae, which are five, instead of six as in the case of the 

 horse, whilst last, but by no means least, the period of gesta- 

 tion in an ass is twelve months, that is, one month longer 

 than in the horse. Of course, too, there are differences in 

 the exterior conformation of the two animals, which are so 

 obvious as to need no special reference, but it may be added 



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