THE WILD ASS. 347 



aid of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scot- 

 land in the promotion of an object in such harmony with 

 the design of its institution, and so specially fitted to 

 benefit the Highlands. 



To France also we owe the prospect of having our 

 domestic animals increased by the addition of a crea- 

 ture known from the most ancient times for its swift- 

 ness, but believed to be untamable, though its flesh 

 was, and is, prized as an article of diet. We refer to 

 the Dzigguetai (Equs hemionus)^ or wild ass of the Book 

 of Job. In its native regions, Cutch, Goojerat, Tar- 

 tary, Persia, and many parts of Central Asia, this ani- 

 mal lives in troops under the conduct of a leader, 

 whose alarm on the least approach of danger sends 

 them bounding over hills and rocks with a fleetness 

 exceeding that of an Arab horse. It may seem in 

 the last degree improbable that such a creature shall 

 ere long take its place among our light beasts of bur- 

 den, and our animals for the saddle and the course ; 

 and yet, to those knowing how readily it has mul- 

 tiplied in France, nothing appears more likely. One 

 of them, several years ago, had bred at Paris for the 

 fifth time. No precautions have been taken to protect 

 them during severe winters ; and the breed, so far from 

 degenerating, is manifestly becoming more vigorous. 



There is another consideration weighing more with those 

 seeking the improvement of agriculture. The cross ob- 

 tained from the male of the dzigguetai and the female 

 ass resulted, in 1844, in the production of an animal of 

 great beauty and vigour. This crossing has been going on 

 ever since ; and the hybrids, which are strong and very 

 swift, have in many instances been broken ; and four 

 of them, accustomed to harness either singly or together, 

 have formed part of an agricultural exhibition, attracting 

 almost as much notice as the finest breeds of horses. 



Here, then, is a new field for our horse-breeders ; 

 they have only to cross the Channel in order to obtain 

 a breed of animals whose utility is undoubted. 



