Book VII. THE MULE AND HINNY. 1013 



6760. In breeding from the ass, the same general rules should be attended to as iti the horse breeding. 

 The male ass will procreate at the age of two and a halt" years, and the female still earlier. The stallion 

 ass should be chosen from the largest and strongest of his species ; he must at least be three years old, 

 but should not exceed ten ; his legs should be long, his body plump, head long and light, eyes brisk, 

 nostrils and chest large, neck long, loins fleshy, ribs broad, rump flat, tail short, hair shining, soft to the 

 touch, and of a deep grey. Those are reckoned the best shaped that are well squared, have large eyes, 

 wide nostrils, long necks, broad breasts, high shoulders, a great back, short tail, the hair sleek, and of a 

 blackish colour. 



6761. The best time for covering is from the latter end of May to the beginning of June, nor must the 

 female be hard worked whilst with foal, for fear of casting ; but the more the male is worked, in moder- 

 ation, the better he will thrive. She brings forth her foal in about a twelvemonth, but, to preserve a 

 good breed, she should not produce more than one in two years. She should be covered between the 

 months of March and June. The best age to breed at is from three years old to ten. When the foal is 

 cast, it is proper to let it run a year with the dam, and then wean it by tying up and giving it grass, and 

 sometimes milk ; and, when it has forgot the teat, it should be turned out into a pasture; but if it be in 

 winter, it must then be fed at times, till it be able to shift for itself. 



6762 The ass may be broken and trained at the end of the second year ; but should not be worked sooner 

 than the third year. Breaking is easily effected when two years old, or it may be let alone stdl longer, as 

 till three vears. It is easily done by laying small weights on his back, and increasing them by degrees ; 

 then set a boy upon him, and so increase the weights as may be proper, till they are sufficiently heavy. 



676o. The age of the ass is known by his teeth in the same manner as the horse. At two years and a 

 half old, the first middle incisive teeth fall out, and the other on each side soon follow ; they are renewed 

 at the same time, and in the same order. 



676+ The anatomy and physiology of the ass do not differ from those of the horse essentially. The 

 concha cartilages ol the ears are, however, considerably more elongated ; the spinous processes of the 

 dorsal vertebrae forming the withers are less extensive ; and the bones of the extremities in general are 

 less angularlv placed, from whence results his inferiority in speed. It is also to the unbending lines of 

 the spine, that his motions are rendered so uneasy to a person placed on the middle of his back. Some 

 specialtv occurs in the feet, which, like the horses of arid climes, are small and upright. His laryngeal 

 sonorous sacs and c6rdas vocalcs are not altogether like those of the horse, from whence his aptitude to 

 bray instead of neighing. In the ass there are three laryngeal sacs as in the horse ; but instead of a wide 

 opening into them, there is a small round hole, and the interior sac is a real bag of considerable size. In 

 the horse there is also, at the commissure of the corda? vocales, a slight membranous fold not visible in 

 the ass. These organs in the mule are compounded of these forms. Braying appears produced through 

 the mouth, whereas neighing is principally effected by the nose. There is a hollow membranous cavity 

 at the back of the mouth that is greatly assistant to this trumpet-like noise, which is effected by convul- 

 sively displacing the velum palati by alternate inspirations and expirations. 



6765. The diseases of the ass, as far as they are known, bear a general resemblance to those of the horse. 

 As he is more exposed, however, and left "to live in a state more approaching to natural, he has few 

 diseases. Those few, however, are less attended to than they ought to be ; and it is for the veterinary 

 practitioner to extend to this useful and patient animal the benefit of his art, in common with those of 

 other animals. The ass is seldom or never troubled with vermin, probably from the hardness of its skin. 



6766. The ass is shod with a narrow web, and with heels projecting beyond the heel of the foot, and 

 slightly turned up, for he seldom overreaches ; but much care is required in using small nails, and in very 

 carefully driving them. The hinder shoes differ little from those used for the fore feet. 



Chap. III. 



The Mule and Hinny, Hybrids of the Horse and Ass. 



6767. The mule (E^quus A sinus var. y ~Midus L. Grand Mvlet Fr. ; Grosser 

 Jfaulessel, Ger. ; Mula, Span, and Ital.) is the hybrid produce of an ass with a mare; 

 having a large clumsy head, long erect ears, a short mane, and a thin tail. 



6768. The hinny (E^quus Asinus, var. 5 Hinnus L. Bardeau or Petit Mvlet, Fr. ; 

 Kleiner Maulessel, Ger. ; Mulo, Span, and Ital.) is the hybrid produce between the she- 

 ass and a stallion ; the head is long and thin, the ears are like those of a horse, the mane 

 is short, and the tail is well filled with Lair. The hinny is much less common than the 

 mule ; because, being less hardy and useful than the other, he is never cultivated. 



6769. The mule, commonly so called, is much valued for the saddle, and for drawing 

 carriages in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the East, and in the warmer parts of America. 

 In those countries where great attention is paid to the breed, it is as tall as the horse, 

 exceedingly well limbed, but not so handsome, especially about the head and tail. These 

 animals are mostly sterile ; some, indeed, have thought that they are altogether incapable 

 of producing their kind ; but some few instances have occurred in which female mules 

 have had foals, and in which even th<: male has impregnated females both of the ass and 

 horse species, though such instances are exceedingly rare. 



6770 The mules made use of in the southern parts of Europe are now brought to an astonishing perfec- 

 tion as well as great size. (fig. 853. 1 Thev are usually black, strong, well-limbed, and large, being mostly 

 bred out of fine Spanish mares. ' Thev are sometimes fifteen or sixteen hands high, and the best of 

 them worth forty or fiftv pounds. No' creatures are so proper for large burdens, and none so sure- 

 footed. Thev are much'stronger for diaught than our horses, and are often as thickset as our dray- 

 horses, and will travel several months together, with six or eight hundred weight upon their backs. 

 Some think it surprising that these animals are not more propagated here, as they are so much haruier 

 and stronger than horses, less subject to diseases, and capable of living and working to twice the age of a 

 horse Those that are bred in cold countries are more hardv and fit for labour than those bred in hot ; 

 and those which are light made are fitter for riding than horses, as to the walk and trot; but they are 

 apt to gallop rough ; though these do it much less than the short-made ones. The general complaint 

 made against them is, that they kick and are stubborn ; but this is owing to neglect in breeding them, for 

 they are as gentle as horses in countries where thev are bred with proper care. 



677 1 In the breeding of mules, mares that are of a very large breed and well made should be employed. 

 They should be young, full of lite, large barrelled, but small limbed, with a moderate-sized head, and a 

 t . od forehand. It i* found of advantage to hava the foals from the time of their being dropped ofteu 



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