THE ASS. 19 



completely erroneous, has been proved by arguments 

 that admit of no appeal ; I shall therefore consider the 

 Ass as totally distinct from that more noble animal 

 which has been so recently described. The Wild Ass 

 has by some writers been confounded with the Zebra, 

 although they are of a very different race; for the for- 

 mer is not streaked like the latter, neither is he near so 

 beautiful in shape. His figure differs little from the Ass 

 of this country, though the colour of his skin is much 

 more bright; and there is a white streak runs from the 

 head to the tail. He is found in many of the Archipe- 

 lago Islands ; but in the deserts of Lybia and Numidia 

 they particularly abound, and are peculiarly remarked 

 for the swiftness of their flight. So completely wild are 

 they in their nature, that, at the sight of a man, they 

 begin to bray, and stop short all together, until he ap- 

 proaches near, when they all set off with the greatest 

 speed, and are entangled in those traps which are placed 

 for the purpose of impeding their flight. The natives 

 catch them for the sake of their flesh, which they con- 

 sider as a delicious treat; and of the skins they make 

 that kind of leather which is known amongst us by the 

 name of shagreen. The ass, like the horse, was origi- 

 nally imported into America by the Spaniards, where 

 the breed has multiplied into such vast numbers that 

 they often are considered as a nuisance to the States, 

 and regular hunts are formed for their destruction, as if 

 they were of the carnivorous race. 



In this state of nature they possess all thefleetness of 

 the horse, for neither precipices or declivities can retard 

 their career ; and when attacked, they defend them- 

 selves with their heels and mouth, without even at- 

 tempting to slacken their pace : but the most remark- 

 able property in these creatures is, that, after carrying 



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