T H E A S S. 7 



and from them into moft parts of Africa. Europe alfo, and even 

 America, highly prize Arabian horfes. America had not originally 

 this noble animal ; but now has plenty, noc only domeftic, but wiM 

 alfo. At this time, ajmoft all nations have their rcfpeclive breeds 

 of horfes, and according to their foil, climate, or management, the 

 animal improves or degenerates. 



By great afliduity, application, and management in their breeding, 

 Englifh horfes are now fuperior to all others for fize, ftrength, 

 fwiftnefs, and beauty. By judicious mixture of foreign original kinds, 

 the happy difference of our foils, and our fuperior fkiil, we have 

 brought this animal to its highcft perfedlion. An Englifh horfe 

 excels the Arabian, in fize and fwiftnefs j is more durable than the 

 Barb, and more hardy than the Perfian. Our racers go at the rate 

 of a mile in two minutes : and we had one inflance, in the admirable 

 Childers, of flill greater rapidity. He has been frequently known to 

 move above eighty-two feet and a half in a fecond, or alnioft a mile 

 in a minute : and he has run round the courfe of Newmarket, which 

 is little lefs than four miles, in fix minutes and forty feconds. 



THE ASS. 



THE horfe and the afs, though nearly approaching in form, 

 are of diflin<5l kinds, and of different natures : were there but 

 one of each kind, both races would probably be extinguifhed. Their 

 fhapes and habits may refemble ; but there is fomething in every 

 animal, befide conformation, or way of life, that determines its fpecitic 

 nature. 



The onager, or wild afs, abounds more than the wild horfe ; and 

 the peculiarities of its kind are more diflinctly marked than among 

 the tame. Had it been a horfe degenerated, or were a horfe an afs im- 

 proved, the wild animals of both kinds would refemble each other," 

 much more than thofe doraefticatcd, on whom art has long been em- 

 ployed in producing new habits and alterations. The contrary however 

 obtain », and the wild afs is even more cfinine, than that bred in 

 fcrvitude j and has a natural averfion to the horfe. 



This animal is found wild in many iflands of the Archipelago, 

 particularly in that of Cerigo : alfo in the defarts of Lybia and 



No. 21. C , Nunnidia: 



