THE ASS. 211 



breed ; and I have seen a jack-ass, from that 

 country, above fifteen hands high. This animal, 

 however, seems originally a native of Arabia. A 

 warm climate is known to produce the largest 

 and the best ; their size and spirit decline in 

 proportion as they advance into colder regions. 



Though now so common in all parts of Eng- 

 land, the ass was entirely lost amongst us during 

 the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Hollingshed in- 

 forms us that our land did yield no asses.* How- 

 ever, there are accounts of their being common 

 in England before that time. In Sweden they 

 are at present a sort of rarity ; nor does it appear 

 by the last history of Norway that they have yet 

 reached that country. It is in the hotter climates 

 alone that we are to look for the original of this 

 serviceable creature. In Guinea, they are larger 

 and more beautiful than even the horses of the 

 same country. In Persia, they have two kinds ; 

 one of which is used for burdens, being slow and 

 heavy.; the other, which is kept for the saddle, 

 being smooth, stately, and nimble. They are 

 managed as horses, only that the rider sits nearer 

 the crupper, and they are taught to amble like 

 them. They generally cleave their nostrils to 

 give them more room for breathing, and many of 

 these are sold for forty or fifty pounds. 



The ass is a much more hardy animal than the 

 horse, and liable to fewer diseases. Of all animals 

 covered with hair, he is the least subject to ver- 

 min, for he has no lice, probably owing to the 



* British Zoology, vol. i. p. II. 



