T H E A S S. 9 



attempt to rife to free himfelf from thofe flight impediments. He 

 walks, trots, and gallops like a horfc i but though he fcts out very 

 freely at firft, yet is foon tired i and no beating will make him mend 

 his pace. 



We have good reafons to believe that, were the fame care bellowed 

 on the afs as on the horfe, and the fame induftry ufed in crofTing the 

 breed and improving it, we (hould fee the als become from his prefenc 

 mean ftate, a very portly and ferviceable animal ; we fhould find him 

 rival the horfe in fonieof his perfcftions, and exceed him in others. 

 The afs, bulk for bulk, is flronger than the horfe; is more fure- 

 footed ; and, though flov/er in his motions, is much iefs apt to flart 

 out of the way. 



Though now common in England, the afs was loft among us 

 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Holingfhed informs us that 

 our land did yield no affes : but we have accounts of their being 

 frequent in England before that time. In Sweden and the north, 

 they are a fort of rarity. The hotter climates are the original of this 

 ferviceable creature. In Guinea, they are larger and more beautiful 

 than their horfes. In Perfia, they have two kinds ; one ufed for 

 burthens, being flow and heavy ; the other for the faddle, being 

 fmooth, (lately, and nimble. They are managed as horfes, and they 

 are taught to amble like them ; but the rider firs nearer the crupper. 

 They generally cleave their noflrils to give them more room for 

 breathing, and many of thefe are fold for forty or fifty pounds. 



Of all animals covered with hair, the afs is the lead fubjefl to 

 vermin, for he has no lice, probably owing to the drynefs and hardnefs 

 of his Ikin : he is three or four years in coming to perfe<5lion ; lives 

 till twenty or twenty-five ; fleeps much Iefs than the horfe ; never lies 

 down for that purpofe, unlefs very much tired. The flie-afs goes 

 above eleven months with young ; never brings more than one at 

 a time. 



The Mule may be engendered either between a horfe and a flic-afs, 

 or between a jack-afs and a mare. The latter breed is larger, llronger, 

 and better fliaped. The common mule is healthy, and will live above 

 thirty years, being very ferviceable in carrying burthens, particularly 

 in mountainous and ftony places, where horfes are not fo fure-footed. 

 The mule is not totally and neceflarily barren : befide the authority of 

 Ariftotle long ago, modern obfervation furnifhes fa<5ls in proof of this 

 aflertion j but as the inftances are very rare, the mule may be confi- 

 3 C 2 dered 



